Karen Gaston, 44, of East Granby, Connecticut, was sentenced on December 4, 2024, for Medicaid fraud following a conviction for larceny and health insurance fraud. Gaston, the CEO of Elegant Clinical Corporation, a vocational program for disabled adults, was found guilty by a Hartford Superior Court jury on September 26, 2024, for submitting false claims to Medicaid for services that were never provided.
The court sentenced Gaston to six years in prison, execution suspended, followed by five years of probation. As part of her sentence, she is required to pay restitution up to $52,648.97, serve nine months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, and refrain from being a Medicaid provider. Additionally, Gaston must undergo substance abuse and mental health evaluations and complete 200 hours of community service.
The fraud involved billing Medicaid for services that were allegedly provided to nine individuals, despite evidence showing the individuals either received treatment elsewhere or were absent on the dates in question.
The investigation into Gaston’s fraudulent activities was conducted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, with prosecution led by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Richard Greenalch and Assistant State’s Attorney Kyle LaBuff. The investigation also involved the Connecticut Department of Social Services, the Department of Developmental Services, and the Attorney General’s Office.
Anyone with information about suspected fraud or abuse within the public healthcare system is encouraged to contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at (860) 258-5986.