12 Charged in Alleged Pennsylvania Medicaid Fraud Scheme

PHILADELPHIA—Twelve individuals and an agency have been charged by federal indictment and additional defendants have been charged by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General with healthcare fraud and other offenses, for allegedly conspiring to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program.

“The great fraud against the American taxpayer takes many forms,” said United States Attorney David Metcalf. “It is outrageous and unacceptable that anyone could steal money by billing nonexistent homecare services for caregivers who were, in fact, dead, in prison or trafficking drugs.”

Multiple federal cases were the focus of the takedown; the first case involves three separate indictments charging a total of eight defendants. The first indictment charges Joseph Pizzo, 47, and Tiziana Taormina, 52, both of Philadelphia, with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, and multiple counts of healthcare fraud.

The indictment alleges that, from about July 2023 to April 2024, and about July 2024 to May 2026, Taormina, a personal care aide with “Agency 1,” and Pizzo, a Medicaid recipient, schemed to defraud Medicaid. They did so through a series of false and fraudulent clock-ins for care she purportedly provided to Pizzo—including while he was incarcerated in Bucks County and while he was working a construction job. In total, the indictment alleges that Taormina and Pizzo’s scheme caused a payout of at least $160,000 in Medicaid claims.

The second indictment in the case charges Donna Romsteadt, 63, Alyssa Cuculino, 27, Louise Israel, 46 and Elexis Cuculino, 51, all of Philadelphia, with a similar conspiracy and healthcare fraud offenses. Alyssa Cuculino is the daughter of Elexis Cuculino and the niece of Donna Romsteadt. Alyssa Cuculino and Israel were the homecare aides, employed by “Agency 1,” and Romsteadt and Elexis Cuculino were the Medicaid recipients for whom the aides purportedly provided homecare.

Also referenced in the indictment is Medicaid “Recipient No. 1,” a relative of Romsteadt’s who resided with her. Both Israel and Alyssa Cuculino purportedly provided, and billed for, services to “Recipient No. 1” for lengthy periods. Israel also sought payment for Romsteadt’s supposed care, and Alyssa Cuculino billed for care she supposedly provided her mother Elexis Cuculino.

Again, the indictment alleges no-show billing, with Alyssa Cuculino working at another job, or even hospitalized, during times she claimed that she was providing homecare. Israel was, at times, incarcerated while purportedly providing care services. As alleged, Romsteadt and Elexis Cuculino actively assisted in the conspiracy, performing fraudulent clock-ins for Alyssa Cuculino and Israel. In total, these four defendants allegedly caused approximately $445,000 in fraudulent claim payouts.

The third indictment in this case charges Albert Coccia Jr., 56, and Santino Coccia, 28, both of Philadelphia, with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and multiple counts of healthcare fraud. Albert Coccia Jr., a Medicaid recipient, is the father of Santino Coccia, a homecare aide with “Agency 1.”

The indictment alleges repeated billing for care Santino Coccia supposedly provided to his father, at times when Santino Coccia was actually behind the wheel, making hundreds of trips as a contractor for a national rideshare and food-delivery provider. The indictment alleges that the Coccias conspired to cause fraudulent claims and payouts totaling at least $211,000.

The second federal case features separate indictments against Sean Murray, 58, and Charles Bowie, 53, both of Philadelphia, who both worked for “Homecare Company 1.”

Murray was indicted on one count of healthcare fraud and nine counts of wire fraud, arising from an alleged scheme to defraud Medicaid through fraudulent homecare services. He is already awaiting trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for separate narcotics trafficking and firearms charges.

The indictment alleges that most of what Murray billed for homecare services occurred while he was actually at the gym, massage parlor, traveling or selling illegal drugs, with Murray paying kickbacks to clients to go along with the scheme. The indictment alleges $400,000 in billings by Murray, the vast majority of which were for services not rendered.

Bowie was indicted on one count of healthcare fraud and 13 counts of wire fraud, arising from a similar scheme. The indictment alleges that he billed for purported homecare services rendered at times when, in reality, he was vacationing in Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Colombia and other destinations. As alleged, Bowie caused approximately $600,000 in Medicaid billings, the vast majority of which were fraudulent.

In another federal case, Khaleelah Williams, 49, and Saleemah Davis, 29, both of Philadelphia, and the homecare agency they own, Benevolent Home Health LLC, have been charged with healthcare fraud conspiracy, healthcare fraud and 14 counts of wire fraud. In addition, Williams and Davis have each been charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft.

The indictment alleges that Williams billed Medicaid for homecare services purportedly provided by her husband, both while he was allegedly trafficking narcotics and after he was detained in federal custody on drug trafficking charges. Davis and Williams also billed for homecare services purportedly performed by a deceased aide. As alleged, Williams and Davis made approximately $224,000 in fraudulent claims to Medicaid.