A Michigan resident pleaded guilty after prosecutors say she billed Medicare for psychotherapy sessions that never happened at her adult day care, part of a broader federal push to stop health-care fraud.
A federal case in Michigan ended this week with a guilty plea from Yolanda Matthews, 58, of Farmington Hills, after an investigation found she billed Medicare for psychotherapy services that were not provided. Authorities say the false billing took place through her adult day care center and involved a pattern of fabricated claims over time. The case has drawn attention because of the brazen nature of some of the alleged practices.
Court filings show Matthews submitted claims while beneficiaries were actually hospitalized, billed for sessions under the names of social workers who no longer worked at the center, and even billed for psychotherapy after beneficiaries had died. The total alleged false billing surpassed $539,000 in claims submitted to Medicare. Prosecutors framed these actions as deliberate attempts to steal taxpayer dollars earmarked for legitimate care.
Matthews pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 18, 2026, where she faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The legal process will now proceed through the sentencing phase, with federal prosecutors recommending appropriate penalties.
The announcement naming the charges and the outcome listed senior Justice Department and investigative officials by name. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General made the announcement. Those officials underscored the coordinated federal effort behind the case.
The FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG led the investigation into the billing practices at the adult day care center. Trial Attorney Jeffrey A. Crapko of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the matter in federal court. Their work is part of routine enforcement operations that target schemes which exploit federal health-care programs.
Prosecutors charged Matthews as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a nationwide operation that has targeted dozens of defendants for allegedly defrauding federal health programs. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, and the new unit — referred to in department materials as the “Fraud Division” — has prioritized complex fraud investigations. The division’s formation signals a more concentrated approach to tracking and prosecuting sophisticated billing schemes.
Republican leaders have pointed to cases like this as validation for aggressive federal enforcement and oversight. The Department’s work to combat fraud has been linked publicly to President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. That framing reflects a broader push from conservative policymakers to tighten accountability for anyone who abuses federal benefits.
The Justice Department also highlighted longer-running efforts that complement one-off prosecutions, noting the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program’s record of charges. Since 2007, strike forces operating across federal districts have brought cases against thousands of defendants; prosecutors say those efforts have addressed schemes that collectively billed federal healthcare programs and private insurers tens of billions of dollars. At the same time, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officials and HHS investigators continue to take steps to detect and stop improper payments.
https://x.com/DOJFraudDiv/status/2081830636029915359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Federal authorities say they will keep pursuing providers and administrators who exploit Medicare and other programs, using criminal charges and civil remedies to recover funds and deter misconduct. For now, Matthews’ guilty plea serves as the next step in a legal process that will end with sentencing and potential restitution, and it keeps the spotlight on ongoing efforts to safeguard taxpayer-funded health programs.
