HARRISBURG -Attorney General Tom Corbett Tuesday announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section have filed criminal charges against a Delaware County man who was paid more than $12,000 for mental health services based on falsified information about his education and academic credentials.
Corbett identified the defendant as Leonard Wright, 41, Upper Darby.
According to the criminal charges, Wright falsely claimed to have earned a master’s degree when applying for work as a behavioral specialist consultant and mobile therapist for New Hope of Pennsylvania Inc. Those positions involve working with children who have mental health or behavioral problems and require a master’s degree as a minimum qualification, according to the PA Department of Public Welfare.
Corbett said that according to the criminal complaint, Wright falsely claimed he had earned a master of science Degree in biopsychology from Drexel University when he applied for a position with New Hope in January 2002.
The criminal charges state that during an interview on Jan. 3, 2002, Wright submitted documents which he claimed were his original MS degree from Drexel University along with a congratulatory certificate from the Drexel University community president. A review of Drexel University records by agents from the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section determined that Wright had not been awarded a degree from the university, but rather, had been expelled in June 1999.
Corbett said that based on the information provided by Wright, he was employed by New Hope of Pennsylvania between January 2002 and May 2002. During that time, New Hope submitted claims to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) totaling at least $12,880 for behavior health care services that Wright had allegedly provided to children. Because Wright was not certified to perform those services, the Medicaid claims which were submitted are considered fraudulent.
Corbett said that according to the criminal complaint, in May 2005 Wright applied for a position as a Behavioral Specialist Consultant at Pennsylvania Mentor, the corporate successor to New Hope of Pennsylvania. At that time, officials noticed discrepancies between Wright’s current resume and the one he had submitted in 2002, resulting in a more detailed investigation.
The criminal charges state that when Wright applied for employment in May 2005 he submitted letters of recommendation from two former supervisors. Both of those individuals denied ever writing, dictating or authorizing the production of those letters.
Additionally, Corbett said that Wright allegedly submitted his falsified Drexel University degree to another employer in December 2002, while applying for a position as a Behavioral Specialist Consultant.
Wright is charged with one count each of Medicaid fraud, theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Each count is a third degree felony, carrying a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Wright is also charged with five counts of forgery, a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Wright surrendered today in Philadelphia to agents from the Attorney General’s Office.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12 at the Philadelphia County Criminal Justice Center.
The case will be prosecuted in Philadelphia County by Deputy Attorney General Christian Sondergaard Jr., of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section.