Attorney General Maura Healey announced that two individuals have been charged with falsely billing MassHealth’s Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program for services that were allegedly never provided. One defendant was also charged with various sex-related crimes against PCAs who were working for him. Eric Melendez, age 43, of Plymouth, was indicted on the charges of Medicaid False Claims, Larceny Over $1,200, Indecent Assault and Battery on a Person Fourteen or Older (2 counts), Attempted Indecent Assault and Battery on a Person Fourteen or Older (2 counts), Engaging in Sexual Conduct for a Fee (2 counts) and Dissemination or Possession of Obscene Matter. Angelica Pierni, age 32, of Plymouth, was also indicted today by a Statewide Grand Jury on the charges of Medicaid False Claims and Larceny over $1,200. Melendez and Pierni will be arraigned in Plymouth Superior Court at a later date.
The AG’s Office alleges that Melendez employed several PCAs to provide him with personal care assistance. Between May 2016 and September 2022, Melendez allegedly submitted false timesheets for the PCAs, including Pierni, indicating hours that could not have been worked because the PCA was working at another job, were more hours than the PCA actually worked, or were hours that were billed after the PCA quit working for Melendez. According to the AG’s investigation, Melendez also engaged in a scheme in which he instructed some PCAs to open a joint bank account with him upon hire, giving him access to the proceeds of their paychecks. He then submitted timesheets reflecting more hours than the PCA had actually worked and paid the PCA for their actual hours using a mobile payment application like Venmo or Cash App, keeping the balance for himself. Melendez’s false timesheets allegedly caused MassHealth to pay nearly $200,000 for services that were not actually provided.
