Health Care Providers indicted for Conspiracy and Fraud

United States Attorney Beth Drake announces that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville returned indictments against health care providers for conspiracy and fraud. 54-year-old Donna Becker of Greenville, 53-year-old Marcela Dolores Farrer of Columbia and 65-year-old Carol Guardiola of Columbia were charged in a six-count indictment. All three defendants were charged with conspiracy, bribery of public officials and witnesses and acts affecting a personal financial interest. The maximum penalty the defendants could receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or five years imprisonment. The case was investigated by agents of the Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr. of the Greenville office for prosecution. The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.