Ester N. Mbaya, a 43-year-old resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for charges related to health care fraud and bank fraud. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Court Judge Julia K. Munley on February 27, 2025. In addition to the prison term, Mbaya is required to pay $3,349,550 in restitution.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus reported that Mbaya was the president of Cool Waters, LLC, a home health care agency involved in fraudulent activities. Between January 2018 and June 2020, she submitted false Medicaid claims for services that were either not provided or inflated in cost, resulting in over $1 million being wrongfully obtained.
Mbaya also falsified records submitted to four financial institutions to secure loans and lines of credit. These records included altered bank statements and falsified paychecks designed to misrepresent her financial standing.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday commented on the case: “This exhaustive investigation uncovered nearly three million dollars in Medicaid funds that should have been used to help Pennsylvanians in need of care but instead were taken by the defendant who deliberately defrauded the system.” He praised the dedication of his team and acknowledged federal collaboration leading to prosecution.
Special Agent Maureen Dixon from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General emphasized the importance of lawful conduct among home health care providers: “This sentencing sends a clear message that home health care providers are required to follow the law and submit only valid claims to Medicaid for reimbursement.”
The investigation was conducted by both the U.S. Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Sherwood along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Consiglio led the prosecution efforts.