Two individuals have been charged with defrauding Connecticut's Medicaid program, according to a recent announcement by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Ramon Apellaniz, also known as "Kristopher Rockefeller" and "Kris," and Suhail Aponte were arrested on federal criminal complaints related to health care fraud.
Apellaniz and Aponte made their initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford. Aponte was released on a $100,000 bond while Apellaniz remains detained pending a hearing set for January 23.
The allegations involve the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CTMAP), which provides medical assistance to low-income individuals through benefit packages known as "HUSKY" or "Connecticut Medicaid." These programs are funded jointly by the state and federal government.
Court documents reveal that Apellaniz previously operated The Gemini Project, LLC in Newington, offering counseling services without a license. In 2020, he faced charges including larceny and health care fraud for billing Medicaid under false pretenses. He pleaded nolo contendere and received an eight-year sentence in April 2024, suspended after serving 15 months.
Further allegations suggest that Minds Cornerstone LLC, registered in June 2021 with Suhail Aponte as manager, submitted fraudulent claims for autism-related services from November 2021 onward. Although Apellaniz had no official ties to Minds Cornerstone, he is accused of running the company under a pseudonym during his incarceration.
The complaint states that fraudulent claims were made for unprovided services or those not covered by procedure codes. The total alleged losses exceed $1.8 million between November 2021 and December 2024.
From May 2022 until November 2024, Aponte was employed by the State of Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management.
Both defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud itself, each carrying a potential maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Avery emphasized that these charges are merely accusations at this stage: "A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt."
The investigation involves several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and others. Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang is prosecuting the case.