Marc H. Silverman, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Suhail Aponte, from Wethersfield, has pleaded guilty to health care fraud related to a Medicaid scheme. Aponte waived her right to indictment and entered her plea before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport.
The Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CTMAP), managed by the state Department of Social Services, offers medical assistance to low-income individuals through Medicaid. The program's funding comes from both the state and federal government.
As outlined in court documents, Aponte was the sole principal and registered agent of Minds Cornerstone LLC, an Autism Specialist group registered with Connecticut in June 2021. From November 2021, Aponte and a co-conspirator allegedly used the company to defraud Medicaid by submitting fraudulent claims for applied behavior analysis services for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The fraudulent activities included billing for non-existing services, billing for incorrect supervisory services, and billing for services supposedly rendered to inpatient hospital patients.
Between November 2021 and January 2025, Aponte's activities led to a loss of approximately $1,876,617 to the Connecticut Department of Social Services. Beyond her involvement with Minds Cornerstone, Aponte was employed by the State of Connecticut in the Office of Policy and Management from May 2022 until November 2024.
Aponte's guilty plea is to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, an offense that could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. She has agreed to forfeit about $459,000 seized from her bank accounts, along with interests in additional accounts and two properties in Hartford. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30.
Aponte was arrested on January 16, 2025, and released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing. The investigation into this case involves the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, aided by the Connecticut Department of Social Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang is handling the prosecution.
