New Haven woman sentenced to prison for Medicaid fraud

Lina PortmanJune 8, 2024

1 2 minutes read

Ethel Bethea, 61, was sentenced to seven years in prison, suspended after one year served. She must pay $101,408 in restitution.

HARTFORD, Conn. — A New Haven woman was sentenced Thursday in Hartford Superior Court for submitting fraudulent Medicaid claims for services that were not provided and for stealing the identities of Medicaid recipients to submit these fraudulent claims, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

Ethel Bethea, 61, was sentenced to seven years in prison, suspended after one year in prison and five years of probation, prosecutors said. She must also pay $38,000 by June 10 and an additional $63,408 during probation for total restitution of $101,408.

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Prosecutors said Bethea pleaded guilty under provisions of the Alford Doctrine and was convicted of first-degree theft by defrauding a public community, health insurance fraud and theft of third degree identity. Under the Alford doctrine, a defendant disputes specific allegations while admitting that there is sufficient evidence to convict him.

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According to prosecutors, Bethea also cannot act as a Medicaid provider or provide services to a Medicaid beneficiary after release. Investigators with the state Attorney's Office's Medicaid Fraud Unit said that in September 2018, Bethea was approved by the state Department of Human Services as a medical assistance provider of Connecticut.

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As a CMAP, Bethea could provide services as a behavioral health clinician, prosecutors said, and her specialty was being a certified alcohol and drug counselor. Bethea operated her own business, Ethel Beathea Counseling.

Prosecutors said Bethea submitted hundreds of claims for services provided between September 2018 and October 2019 that were never actually provided. They also claim she used several people's Medicaid ID numbers without their consent to submit fraudulent claims and obtain the $101,408 for the false bills.

Bethea claimed to have no income but enrolled as a Medicaid recipient and received personal medical services paid for by Medicaid, prosecutors said.

Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected].

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