Chicago-area woman gets 2 years for posing as counselor

CHICAGO (AP) - A federal judge in Chicago has sentenced a woman to two years in prison for posing as a licensed counselor in the city's northern suburbs.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer on Monday called the case "odd and disturbing" as she sentenced 53-year-old Kimberly Even for illegally collecting more than $230,000 in insurance payments. The Chicago Tribune reports the payments stemmed from treatment of 70 patients at a Northfield clinic from 2008 to 2011. The patients largely were teens and young adults struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.

The judge rejected a request for probation from Even's defense, saying that Even continued to see patients for nearly two years after a $10,000 state fine.

Before sentencing Even offered a tearful apology. She pleaded guilty in July to one count of health care fraud.

___

Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com