The Attorney General’s Office has announced that Amy Trela, 48, and Alicia Russell, 30, both from Chittenden County, Vermont, have pled guilty to charges of theft through false pretenses. This plea is part of a negotiated resolution related to a five-year conspiracy to defraud the Vermont Medicaid program. Ms. Trela entered her plea before Judge Michael S. Kupersmith on September 13, 2024, while Ms. Russell did so before Judge John L. Pacht recently.
The charges against Trela and Russell were brought following an investigation by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU). The investigation revealed that the two defendants had falsely certified Medicaid timesheets, resulting in the defrauding of $62,860.84 in public healthcare funds since 2019.
Both individuals were arraigned in July and have accepted responsibility for their actions. They have agreed to repay the stolen funds and perform community service—50 hours for Trela and 25 hours for Russell. Additionally, they will not work as Medicaid agents or contractors and will serve probation until these conditions are met.
For those suspecting fraudulent activities against the Vermont Medicaid program, reports can be made to MFRAU via their website or email.
The MFRAU receives significant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with a grant award totaling $1,332,724 for Federal fiscal year FY 2025. The State of Vermont contributes the remaining amount of $444,241 for FY 2025.