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A Michigan woman quietly admitted she bilked Medicare out of more than half a million dollars by charging for psychotherapy sessions that never happened. The guilty plea announced by the Department of Justice puts another nail in the coffin for sham billing schemes that drain taxpayer-funded programs and betray vulnerable seniors.
DOJ: Owner of adult day care pleads guilty
Yolanda Matthews, 58, of Farmington Hills pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud after admitting she submitted more than $539,000 in false Medicare claims. According to the Justice Department, Matthews billed Medicare for psychotherapy services that were never provided at her adult day care center. The scheme included billing for dates when beneficiaries were actually in the hospital, forging the names of social workers who no longer worked there, and even submitting claims for beneficiaries after they died. That kind of fraud is not just sleazy — it is a straight-up theft of taxpayer money.
Part of a nationwide enforcement push
The guilty plea was announced as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The new National Fraud Enforcement Division of the Department of Justice, led by Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald, and the Criminal Division under Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, highlighted the case. Investigators from the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and the HHS Office of Inspector General handled the probe, and the case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Matthews faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced this coming November.
Why this case matters to taxpayers and seniors
Medicare fraud like this does real harm. When providers pad bills or invent services, it raises costs for everyone and weakens trust in care systems meant for the elderly. Conservatives should cheer vigorous enforcement of fraud laws — protecting taxpayer dollars and honest providers is common-sense government. The Justice Department’s takedown and the creation of a dedicated Fraud Division show the federal government can act decisively when it wants to stop corruption and waste.
This guilty plea is a reminder that fraudsters will keep trying until we make the penalties and the enforcement stronger. Watchdogs at the FBI and HHS‑OIG deserve credit for catching schemes that prey on Medicare. Congress and federal agencies should keep the pressure up, tighten oversight of psychotherapy and high‑volume billing, and make sure guilty operators get the public punishment and restitution they deserve. For now, Yolanda Matthews’s plea sends a clear message: Bill Medicare for sham sessions, and you will answer for it in federal court.
