County Employees Recognized by Freeholders and U.S. Attorney’s Office for Their Role in Stopping a Scam Targeting Senior Citizens
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ – Cape May County employees are often recognized by the Board of Chosen Freeholder for performing duties above and beyond their normal tasks, but two employees were recently recognized not only by the Freeholder Board but also by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey for their efforts in stopping a scam targeting elderly and vulnerable Medicare recipients.
Dolores Rambo, an investigator with the Cape May County Department of Consumer Affairs and Colleen Bingham-Pron, Information Assistance Supervisor, at the Division of Aging and Disability Services, were recognized by the Board for their outstanding work in protecting Senior citizens in the county.
Freeholder Vice Director Leonard Desiderio and Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson presented citations to each employee in their departments in recognition of their assistance in an investigation into a $1 million Medicare fraud case that deceived Seniors into unnecessary DNA tests.
Freeholder Vice Director Desiderio, liaison to the Department of Consumer Affairs, lauded Rambo for her work and dedication to her job and her tenacity to work with State Officials to investigate the scam targeting senior citizens. “I could not be more proud to recognize and honor Dolores Rambo and the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Division of Aging for their efforts on behalf of our citizens. Our senior population is often the most vulnerable, and unfortunately, most preyed upon. The Board takes great honor in recognizing both for their work,” Desiderio said.
Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson also congratulated Colleen Bingham-Pron for her persistence and diligence in the investigation. “It is employees such as Colleen and Dolores that help to make Cape May County a safe haven for our senior citizens. Through their work they aided law enforcement officials in stopping the scam from expanding to other states. We are extremely proud to have them part of the county workforce and gratified in knowing they are willing to take the extra step in protecting our residents.” Pierson said.
The conspiracy involved stealing private medical information and using callus scare tactics to convince elderly and vulnerable Medicare participants to submit to medically unnecessary DNA testing.
In December, a Point Pleasant, New Jersey woman admitted she wrongfully accessed protected health information and paid kickbacks to healthcare professional on behalf of a $1 million Medicare fraud scheme. The healthcare fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for March 14, 2017.
The U.S. Attorney credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the U.S. Marshals Service Asset Forfeiture Program, the Cape May County Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Cape May County Division of Aging with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.