Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
A Maryland woman has admitted to participating in a scheme to defraud Medicaid through her leadership role at a Virginia-based home health agency.
Carolyn Bryant-Taylor, 61, of Clinton, Maryland, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. She faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced.
Bryant-Taylor was charged in March 2025 along with five others: Kafomdi “Josephine” Okocha and Samuel Okocha of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Shekita Gore (also known as Shekita Steele) of Clinton, Maryland; Elizabeth Ilome and Eno Utuk of Stafford, Virginia.
According to court documents, Bryant-Taylor and the Okochas owned and operated 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Service. The company provided private duty nursing and personal care services throughout Virginia, including the Western District. Gore served as director of nursing while Ilome and Utuk were employed as care providers.
Prosecutors say the group conspired to submit false claims for Medicaid reimbursement by falsifying records for services that were never delivered. Between 2017 and 2023, Bryant-Taylor and Josephine Okocha arranged payments for parents or guardians of patients in exchange for blank signed nursing notes. These notes were later used to bill Medicaid for unprovided or inflated services.
The investigation revealed that on several occasions over those years, Bryant-Taylor paid parents or guardians who then agreed to sign off on skilled nursing visits that did not occur. Employees at 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare would use these blank forms to support fraudulent billing.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia; Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Farina of the FBI’s Richmond Division announced the plea.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with help from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Jones and Laura Taylor are prosecuting alongside Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Terry from the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.
"Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Farina of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement."
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are investigating the case, with assistance from the United States Department of Health and Human Services."
"Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Jones and Laura Taylor, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Terry, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case."
