Attorney General Josh Stein Announces Medicaid Fraudster Sentenced

RALEIGH, NC (November 8, 2018) — Attorney General Josh Stein today announced that Renee Christine Borunda of Greensboro was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison following her guilty plea to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. Borunda will also make restitution of $225,399.08 to the North Carolina Medicaid Program.

“People who cheat Medicaid are cheating taxpayers,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “My office will continue our work to protect taxpayers’ wallets and hold these fraudsters accountable.”

According to the case, Borunda managed a company that offered behavioral health services to Medicaid recipients in Wilson, North Carolina. In 2013 and 2014, Borunda used one of the company’s therapist’s personal information to submit fraudulent electronic claims. The claims falsely represented that the therapist had provided $225,339.08 worth of behavioral services to over 200 different Medicaid recipients who lived in Beaufort, Edgecombe, Greene, Guilford, Lenoir, Mecklenburg, Pitt, and Wilson Counties. No such services were rendered. The therapist was unaware that her information was being used to commit fraud.

The investigation and prosecution of this matter was handled in a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation also participated.

About the Medicaid Investigations Division (MID)

The Attorney General’s MID investigates fraud and abuse by healthcare companies and providers, as well as patient abuse and neglect in facilities that are funded by Medicaid.  Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that helps provide medical care for people with limited income. To date, the MID has recovered more than $500 million in restitution and penalties for North Carolina.

To report Medicaid fraud in North Carolina, call the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division at 919-881-2320.