Feds: Houston network of 7 women billed Medicare $110M for hospice care patients who weren’t dying

HOUSTON – Seven people from the Houston area have been charged in a superseding indictment tied to an alleged Medicare fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei said.

Authorities arrested Hattie Banks, 49, of Humble; Lydia Obere, 59, and Cheryl Brooks, 64, both of Houston; and Ena Cowart, 50, of Missouri City. They join Dera Ogudo, 40, and Victoria Martinez, 36, both of Richmond, and Evelyn Shaw, 52, of Houston, who were arrested earlier.

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According to a 43-count superseding indictment returned Oct. 5, the seven are accused of conspiring to bill Medicare and Medicaid for more than $110 million in hospice services for patients who weren’t actually terminally ill. Prosecutors say Ogudo and Martinez ran a business call