ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL OBTAINS GUILTY PLEA IN MEDICAID FRAUD CASE INVESTIGATED BY MEDICAID FRAUD CONTROL UNIT

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL OBTAINS GUILTY PLEA IN MEDICAID FRAUD CASE INVESTIGATED BY MEDICAID FRAUD CONTROL UNIT

October 06, 2026

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a Chicago woman pleaded guilty to defrauding the state out of nearly $9,000 in Medicaid funds.

Maria Gonzalez, 60, pleaded guilty in Cook County Circuit Court to one count of theft, a Class 2 felony. She was sentenced to two years of second chance probation and was ordered to pay total restitution to the Illinois Department on Aging in the amount of $8,876.70. Gonzalez paid $4,500 in court on Tuesday and is ordered to pay the remaining amount by her probation termination date of Oct. 6, 2028.

"Illinois' Medicaid program is intended to help our most vulnerable residents with vital, in-home support and care," Raoul said. "This essential program and its patients should not be taken advantage of by those who are entrusted to provide that care. I am pleased we were able to recover stolen funds, and my office's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will continue to hold those who cheat our systems accountable."

According to Attorney General Raoul's office, Gonzalez was employed by Help at Home in Chicago, which was contracted by the Illinois Department of Aging, to provide in-home assistance to an elderly patient. Raoul's office alleged that between September and November 2022, Gonzalez submitted claims for services while the patient was admitted to a long-term care facility.

Raoul's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) opened an investigation into Gonzalez after receiving a referral from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services - Office of the Inspector General (HFS-OIG).

"HFS-OIG remains dedicated to bringing cases such as this to the Attorney General's office," said HFS Inspector General Brian Dunn. "This action sends a clear message: Fraud within Medicaid will not be tolerated, and those who attempt to misuse public funds will be held fully accountable."

Raoul's MFCU receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $12,292,668 for the federal government's 2027 fiscal year. The remaining 25%, totaling $4,097,556 for the federal government's 2027 fiscal year, is funded by the state of Illinois.

Assistant Attorney General Dan Duffy prosecuted this case for Raoul's MFCU.