In an unsettling development from Southern California, a nurse has been charged with a fraudulent scheme targeting the Medicare system. Jessa Zayas, 34, stands accused of health care fraud and aggravated identity theft for her role in submitting false hospice care claims amounting to millions of dollars. The indictment, as announced by Acting United States Attorney Michele Beckwith, was returned by a federal grand jury, levelling six counts against the Santa Clarita resident, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Zayas, who held the titles of CEO and owner of Healing Hands Hospice and Humane Love Hospice in Van Nuys, is alleged to have devised a ploy to submit claims for over a hundred individuals who were not, in fact, terminally ill, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office. These claims, amounting to at least $2.5 million from June 2023 through May 2025, were supported by fraudulently obtained personal Medicare information. The indictment outlines that Zayas and associates would visit retirement homes in Fresno and Kern Counties, often after hours, to collect this information, at times proceeding to forge doctor's certifications to further their scheme.
Investigative efforts by the FBI and HHS OIG led to Zayas's arrest and a search at her residence, where agents seized $77,000 in cash. This operation underscores a committed response against those allegedly exploiting the hospice care system and taking advantage of elder populations in the community. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Barton and Brittany Gunter are reportedly handling the prosecution of this significant case, as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Consequences for the alleged fraud run high, with Zayas facing up to a decade in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the health care fraud charges. The aggravated identity theft charge could add a mandatory two years, to be served consecutively with any other sentence. Sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines will influence the final judgment. It is crucial to note, Zayas maintains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt—a staple principle of the American legal system, as stated in the U.S. Attorney's Office announcement.
