Lake County, FL – Jessica Chechile and her mother, Heather Steverson, have been arrested in connection with a large-scale insurance fraud scheme that lasted between 8 to 10 months in 2022. The two women are facing over 200 charges combined, including multiple counts of forgery and uttering forged documents.
The investigation into the duo began after police were alerted to a Wells Fargo account opened in Mt. Dora under suspicious circumstances. What initially seemed to be a case of identity theft quickly expanded into a probe into Medicaid fraud.
Police said Chechile and Steverson set themselves up as drivers for people who needed medical transportation and used stolen Medicaid information to falsely bill for the services. “They used stolen Medicaid information to schedule rides for up to four individuals at a time and then traveled all over Central Florida—from Orlando to Sarasota and Bradenton—to different medical facilities, charging Medicaid for these trips,” said a detective with the Eustis Police Department.
The investigation revealed that the fraudulent activity started when a man reported that someone had opened an account at Wells Fargo in his name using a false power of attorney. Police later identified Heather Steverson as the person behind the fraudulent document. Further inquiry uncovered a payment from ModivCare, a transportation company that reimburses drivers for rides to medical appointments. This payment trail helped police trace the fraud back to the two women.
Through further investigation, ModivCare uncovered three accounts linked to Chechile and Steverson, involving 12 victims. One of the victims, Morgan Marks, told police that she was unable to use her Medicaid benefits for 6 to 7 months due to the fraudulent activity. “That completely screwed me over… my StayWell account was put on hold because of all this unauthorized activity,” Marks said.
Authorities also found that Chechile was using the ill-gotten money for personal gain, including spending large sums at local casinos. “Whenever she got a lot of money, she’d go to the casinos and spend it all,” said the detective, noting that Chechile spent $16,000 in one day at the casino.
The fraudulent scheme continued even after Chechile’s arrest in July 2022, with police finding that she had billed for four Medicaid rides while in custody. According to the affidavit, all payments made to Chechile during this time should be considered fraudulent.
Chechile, 39, is currently being held in the Lake County Jail on a $175,000 bond, while her mother, Steverson, 60, is held on a $274,000 bond. Both women face a lengthy list of charges, including forgery and uttering forged documents.
A spokesperson for ModivCare issued a statement confirming their full cooperation with the investigation and stating that they are committed to preventing fraud and protecting Medicaid beneficiaries.
This case underscores the growing concern over fraudulent activities tied to Medicaid and other government programs. Authorities are continuing to investigate and warn the public about the risks of such schemes.