Convicted: O’Fallon woman commits health care fraud while on Caribbean cruise

An O’Fallon woman has been sentenced to six months home detention and five years probation for health care fraud.

Ann Marie Sheppard, 55, was convicted on two counts of federal mail fraud in relation to a scheme to defraud a health care program.

According to court records, Sheppard submitted false bills to Home Services Program, a Medicare waiver program, which claimed she provided personal assistance care. Her bills claimed she provided the services from June 30, 2013 until April 30 2015.

According to acting U.S. Attorney James Porter, during part of that time she claimed she was providing the services in the metro-east, she was actually in Costa Rica. During another portion of the time, she was on a Caribbean cruise.

Court records indicate she falsely billed the program for $34,168.33.

In addition to her home confinement and probation, Sheppard was ordered to pay back that money as well as a $300 special assessment.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 11:29 AM with the headline "Convicted: O’Fallon woman commits health care fraud while on Caribbean cruise."