Former Capital Blue Cross employee, others charged in $300,000 healthcare scam

A former Capital Blue Cross (CBC) employee and four others were indicted for healthcare fraud for allegedly filing false health insurance claims totaling $292,000 in 2012 and 2013.

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, the five individuals named in the indictment are Chireta E. Dantzler, the alleged leader of the scheme; Victoria Thomas, Henry Nolen Bell, Latanya Deidre Hill and Deneen Maria Whiteside.

Authorities allege the co-conspirators would file false health insurance claims on their behalf, reporting they had received healthcare ambulance services when they had not. “The claimants then gave Dantzler a share of the insurance money they received from Capitol Blue Cross and two other providers,” Smith’s office said. Dantzler is also charged alone in a three separate counts of healthcare fraud in connection with claims submitted in 2013.

Taking place in 2012 and 2013 the scheme paid approximately $292,000 in fraudulent claims to the four co-conspirators, according to a news release from Smith’s office, with the intended loss reaching approximately $400,000. 

The investigation was conducted by the Harrisburg Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph J. Terz.

Under federal law, the maximum punishment is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000.