Chicago woman sentenced to 6 years in Medicaid fraud scheme

CHICAGO (AP) - A 55-year-old Chicago woman has been sentenced to six years in prison for Medicaid fraud.

Debra Gaines was sentenced last week after being convicted in July in a scheme to collect money for mental health services that were never provided.

Illinois prosecutors say Gaines billed Medicaid under her business named "Heavenly Interventions" in the amount of $276,000 and falsely claimed a doctor had provided services to patients on behalf of the business between 2007 and 2010.

But the doctor never provided services at Heavenly Interventions. Gaines was convicted of submitting paperwork using the doctor's personal information, including his Social Security and medical license numbers that he provided when he inquired about a job at Gaines' business.