Florida Annuity News

Maine Woman Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements Related To Health Care Matters

Alexandria, Louisiana DEBORAH J. GALINSKY, age 52, from Portland, Maine, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Dee Drell to making false statements related to health care matters, announced United States Attorney Donald W. Washington.  The guilty plea is subsequent to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in June 2002.   GALINSKY was the guardian and conservator of her mentally handicapped sister from 1995 through November 2000.   GALINSKY failed to disclose a monthly annuity payment from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) on Medicaid applications in 1997.  The annuity was set up by GALINSKY’s deceased father for the care of his mentally handicapped daughter.
In 1997, GALINSKY placed her sister in a group home in Vernon Parish and was later transferred to Grant Parish, where she remained until 1998. The cost to house the defendant’s sister in the group homes was $48,598.20, which was paid by Medicaid.  Had Medicaid known about the annuity payments, Medicaid would not have paid for the cost of the group homes.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 14, 2004.  GALINSKY faces a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000 and a 3-year maximum term of supervised release following the completion of the prison term.

Sentencing in federal court is governed by the United States Sentencing Guidelines established by the United States Congress and the United States Sentencing Commission.  Parole has been abolished in the federal system.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger.

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	Did You Know?
	Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) The federal law that establishes the basic requirements for employee benefit plans. The authority for administering and enforcing ERISA is divided among three federal agencies: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).