Houston Woman Sentenced in $1 Million Medicare And Medicaid Scheme

HOUSTON, TX — The owner of a medical clinic with locations in Houston and Port Arthur was sentenced this week to 33 months in federal prison after being convicted of Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

Verona Spicer, 47, the owner of Elite P. Care Medical Services, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and health care fraud charges in 2015.

According to federal officials, Spicer submitted Medicare and Medicaid claims that fraudulently billed for physician office visits not performed by a licensed physician, physical therapy services not provided or performed by a licensed physical therapist, and medical diagnostic tests not ordered as medically necessary but a licensed physician.

Spicer paid Houston-based physician Jocelyn Pyles, 59, who formerly worked full-time for the City of Houston. In the scheme, Pyles would go to Spicer's clinics and and sign medical records of patients whom she had not seen or examined. Spicer and Pyles also signed Medicare and Medicaid enrollment applications that enabled fraudulent billing.

Pyles is also serving time for her conviction on 14 counts of healthcare fraud.

Spicer and Pyles were ordered to pay $560,718.62 in restitution.

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