Director Of Oak Forest Autism Center Indicted On Fraud Charges

OAK FOREST, IL — The executive director of an Oak Forest autism center has been indicted on federal charges after billing an insurer at least $1.6 million for services that were not performed.

Latrice Harrell, 46, of Olympia Fields, who operated The Champion Center for Autism Inc., submitted $3 million in claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois between November 2015 and May 2018 for therapeutic services provided by the center's occupational therapist and behavioral analyst, according to the U.S. State’s Attorney's Office of the Northern Illinois District. However, those services never were provided, and Harrell used those employees' names and information without their knowledge, the indictment said. She received about half of what she submitted in claims to the insurer.

Harrell was indicted Aug. 29 on charges that include seven counts of health care fraud, two counts of making false statements in a health care matter and two counts of aggravated identity theft. She pleaded not guilty Thursday at her arraignment before U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall.

Each count of health care fraud is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while each false statement count carries a maximum sentence of five years. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory prison sentence of two years, which must be served consecutively to the sentence for the underlying offense. If she is convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Harrell's next court appearance is Nov. 18.