Attorney General Jon Bruning

News Release

                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    Contact: Holley Hatt

                        October 31, 2007 2:15pm CDT                                                 402.471.2067

Omaha Mental Health Therapist to Serve

90 Days in Jail for Medicaid Fraud

(Lincoln, NE) Attorney General Jon Bruning today announced that Christine Palermo, 43, of Omaha was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years of probation for one count of theft by unlawful taking. She was also ordered to pay $3,237.22 in criminal restitution to the Nebraska Medicaid program. The sentencing occurred today in Douglas County District Court.

“Ms. Palermo stole money from a program built to assist low-income families with their healthcare costs,” Bruning said. “Our job is to ensure all healthcare professionals are playing by the rules.”

According to an investigation by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Palermo stole a total of $4,337.22 between February 2004 and August 2006 by charging Nebraska Medicaid for services that were never rendered. Palermo has already made one payment of $1,100 to the state. The restitution ordered today is in addition to that payment.

Under Nebraska law, theft by unlawful taking is a class IV felony.

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Director Mark Collins handled the case.

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An audio clip about the sentence is posted on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.ago.ne.gov.