(WNY News Now) Mother and sister Rashina and Jasmine Long were sentenced to prison for Medicaid fraud and ignoring a paraplegic relative, resulting in life-threatening injuries.
HARRISBURGTwo Philadelphia women have been sentenced to prison for ignoring their paraplegic relative, which resulted in their hospitalization and need for critical care, Attorney General Michelle Henry revealed today. The victim depended on Rashina Long, 48, and Jasmine Long, 33, as direct care workers for everyday help with activities including taking a shower, taking care of their skin, and preparing meals.
Both women entered guilty pleas to Medicaid fraud and neglect of a care-dependent person in September. Each received a sentence of two to four years in prison and seven years of probation on Thursday. They are prohibited from working as caregivers for the term of their probation as part of their sentencing.
The victim was hospitalized in October 2022 due to serious medical difficulties as a result of the negligence, which took place between December 2021 and September 2022. Physicians discovered that the man was very dehydrated, malnourished, and had developed serious pressure sores. Numerous operations were necessary for his care, such as a blood transfusion and time spent on a ventilator.
Attorney General Henry stated that two trusted caregivers’ heinous behavior is made worse by the fact that they are related to the man they neglected. Neglectful actions that hurt those in need of care and scam the Medicaid system will not be accepted by my office.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Section of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office conducted an investigation and found that the Longs had fraudulently charged the Medicaid program more than $140,000 for services they never rendered. In addition to physically harming their relative, the women’s acts took advantage of the public health system.
This case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Benjamin McKenna.