MONTGOMERY COUNTY PERSONAL CARE PROVIDER
CHARGED WITH FELONY FRAUD AND THEFT

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that a Montgomery County woman who worked as a provider of personal care services has been indicted in connection with her billings for the care she claimed to have provided to two elderly Medicaid recipients.

Ella Sviriduk, 48, who is a resident of Germantown, Maryland, was indicted by the Montgomery County grand jury in a six count indictment charging her with felony Medicaid fraud and felony theft. It is alleged that over a five and a half year period from 1999 through 2006, Sviriduk submitted numerous billings for personal care services that she had not in fact provided, and for services for which she knew she was not entitled to receive payment.

Medicaid’s Personal Care Program helps qualified elderly, chronically ill, or disabled persons remain in their homes and out of institutional care by providing an aide who assists the recipient with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, ambulation, eating, grooming, and some household services.

It is alleged that Sviriduk defrauded the Maryland Medicaid program of more than $59,000.

Felony Medicaid fraud carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $100,000. Felony theft carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of $25,000. An indictment is an accusation, and all persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. An arraignment date has not yet been set.

This case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.