Home Health Care Owner Sent to Prison Due to Fraudulent Claims

HOUSTON—A 63-year-old Sugar Land resident has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Joyce Agu pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2022. On Wednesday, March 29, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Agu to prison for a total of 60 months to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional information regarding Agu’s family and her charitable contributions. However, Judge Crane considered how extensive the fraudulent scheme was and the millions that were siphoned from the Medicare program. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the amount of fraud.

At the time of her plea, Agu admitted she paid others to certify her clients for home health services in order to bill Medicare. These beneficiaries did not qualify for the services and, in some cases, did not receive them. 

Medicare paid Agu’s companies more than $3 million based on the fraudulent claims.

Agu was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.