December 21, 2015

Texas Nurse Convicted of Health Care Fraud

PLANO, TX—A Denton County, Texas, nurse has been convicted of 9 counts of health care fraud in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Florence Kroma a/k/a Florence Kamara a/k/a Florence Koroma a/k/a Florence Bangura, 55, of Denton, Texas, was found guilty by a jury of nine counts of health care fraud late Friday evening following a four day trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.

According to information presented in court, Kroma, a registered nurse, owned and operated Mt. Zion Home Health Agency in Denton, Texas. From April 2008 to October 2013, Kroma carried out a scheme to defraud Medicare through the submission of false and fraudulent claims for skilled nursing services which were not provided and which were not authorized by the patients’ physicians. At times, Kroma submitted claims for services which she allegedly provided when she was out of state. At other times, Kroma submitted claims for services which she allegedly provided to patients who testified that they did not know her and had never heard of her company. Kroma was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 11, 2015.

Kroma faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each health care fraud conviction. A sentencing date has not been set.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of State.

Any individuals with knowledge of these or other health care fraud violations are encouraged to contact the Department of Health and Human Services’ fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (447-8477).