Gerardo Santillan, along with seven others, was charged with defrauding the state health care system.
LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced that a grand jury has indicted Southern California health care provider Gerardo Santillan and seven others for defrauding the state’s Medicare program of approximately $60 million between 2016 and 2022 through their operation of three home health care agencies.
Following a grand jury hearing, Gerardo Santillan, Ruth Elizabeth Ely, Marisol Rodriguez, Christopher Gonzalez, Vivian Cono, Maria Consorcia Pagtacan Lim, Vivian Bonotan Pagtacan, and Vartan Akopian were indicted on 23 felony counts, including insurance fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, theft, Medicare fraud, insurance fraud, and money laundering.
“We will not tolerate fraudulent activity by individuals who exploit Medicare to gain advantage, as it can jeopardize the critical and necessary health care services our most vulnerable residents rely on,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today’s action is made possible thanks to my team’s efforts to hold accountable those who defraud Medicare, and we will continue to do so.”
Santillan was previously barred from participating in the Medicare program after being convicted of Medicare program fraud in August 2018. According to the indictment, Santillan continued his fraudulent activities, using other home health agencies to fraudulently bill Medicare for medical services, including Four P’s Health Services, dba Covenant Home Health, Angel Care Home Health and Neighborhood Home Health Care, Inc.
It is important to note that criminal charges include charges that must be proven in court. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
DMFEA will receive 75% of its funding from HHS-OIG in a grant amounting to $87,038,485 in federal funding for fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25% will be funded by the State of California. The federal fiscal year is defined as October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
A copy of the indictment is available here.
