A Michigan woman has been found guilty for her involvement in a scheme to defraud the United States and receive illegal health care kickbacks. Mary Smettler-Bolton, 71, from Oakland County, was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
Court documents revealed that Smettler-Bolton referred Medicare beneficiaries to various Metro Detroit home health companies in exchange for substantial kickbacks. This fraudulent activity spanned four years and resulted in over $1.4 million in losses to Medicare.
Smettler-Bolton faces a maximum sentence of five years for conspiracy and ten years for receiving kickbacks. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 3, 2025. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering relevant guidelines and statutory factors.
The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ryan Elsey and Assistant Chief Shankar Ramamurthy from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
The Fraud Section plays a crucial role in combating health care fraud through its Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since its inception in March 2007, this program has charged over 5,400 defendants with billing more than $27 billion to federal health care programs and private insurers. Efforts continue with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services working alongside HHS-OIG to hold providers accountable for participating in such schemes.
Further information on these efforts can be accessed at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.