Manchester woman indicted in Medicaid fraud case

MANCHESTER - A Manchester woman has been indicted on Medicaid fraud charges in connection with alleged fraudulent claims for home care services that were not provided, the Attorney Generals Office announced on Monday.

On Nov. 18 the Merrimack County Grand Jury indicted Elis Urena De Cruz, 41, on charges of theft by deception and false claims alleging that between March 24, 2021, and March 31, 2021, De Cruz submitted fraudulent timesheets to her employer, MAS Staffing, falsely stating that she was providing home care services to an individual who De Cruz knew was, in fact, not at home. The indictments further allege that she acted with the intent to defraud New Hampshire Medicaid, and that she received more than $1,500 in Medicaid funds in connection with the alleged scheme.

The maximum penalty on the theft by deception charge, a class A felony, is 7½ to 15 years in the New Hampshire State Prison and a $4,000 fine. The maximum penalty on the False Claims charge, a class B felony, is 3½ to 7 years in the New Hampshire State Prison and a $4,000 fine.

De Cruz will be arraigned on the indictments in the Merrimack County Superior Court on a date to be determined. The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.