INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis woman has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.
Yolanda Brooks, 52, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after she embezzled almost $1 million in funds meant for her employer's clients.
According to court documents Brooks was employed by an unnamed company as a Medicaid supervisor from Dec. 16, 2005 until July 2, 2020.
The company for which Brooks worked processed medical insurance claims on behalf of Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance companies. Brooks' work duties allowed her access to checks that were meant to be processed and distributed to the companies' clients as refunds.
Court documents show that in July 2018, Brooks opened two personal bank accounts with Key Bank using her maiden name, Yolanda Mohid. Brooks listed her Indianapolis residence as the address for both accounts. According to court documents, the account names were similar to the names of her employer's clients.
Court docs say that between March 22, 2018 and July 23, 2021, Brooks intercepted at least 486 checks that had been mailed to her employer for a total of $920,148.51 and deposited the money into her two bank accounts.
According to court documents, Brooks then used the money to purchase personal items, gamble at casinos and take luxury vacations.
“Nearly 500 times, this defendant abused her position of trust to steal nearly $1 million intended to pay people’s health care costs,” U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers said. “Our office is committed to working with our partners at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to hold fraudsters accountable. The serious federal prison sentence imposed here should serve as a warning to any who might consider engaging in this sort of scheme: you will be caught, you will be prosecuted and you will potentially go to federal prison.”
Following Brooks' release from prison, a federal judge ordered her to serve three years probation and pay back the full $920,148.51 in restitution.