A federal jury in Lafayette has reached a verdict against Shanone Chatman-Ashley, a nurse practitioner from Opelousas, who was found guilty of being involved in a scheme to defraud the Medicare Program, totaling over $2 million. Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook confirmed the conviction after a four-day trial presided over by United States District Judge David C. Joseph.
Chatman-Ashley, 45, was charged with five counts of health care fraud following her indictment in December 2023. Evidence brought to light during the trial showed that the convicted nurse practitioner had been creating fraudulent Medicare claims through her position as a telehealth services provider. Among the allegations was the submission of numerous orders for medical equipment, which were deemed unnecessary due to the lack of examination of beneficiaries by Chatman-Ashley or any other medical professional. In one instance, a knee brace was ordered for a beneficiary who had already undergone leg amputation. Chatman-Ashley allegedly signed documents falsely affirming these examinations.
The fraudulent activities, spanning from 2017 to 2019, resulted in more than 1,000 unwarranted orders and over $1 million in reimbursements from Medicare. The court heard that Chatman-Ashley accepted kickbacks from companies in return for these orders. U.S. Attorney Van Hook criticized the defendant for her unethical actions, stating, "This defendant not only defrauded the Medicare Program but went against everything the medical profession stands for which is a promise to provide ethical and responsible patient care."
To combat such fraud, cooperation between agencies remains vital. Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, emphasized the importance of integrity in medical decision-making, adding, “Illegal kickback payments undermine and corrupt the medical decision-making process.”
With her sentencing scheduled for July 31, 2025, Chatman-Ashley is facing a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison for each count of health care fraud. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Danny Siefker and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters managed the prosecution for the Western District of Louisiana.
