Former Haven Health Care Bookkeeper Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SERENA SYLVIA, 42, of Fargo Road, Waterford, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. On January 6, 2011, SYLVIA pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of filing a false federal income tax return.

According to court documents and statements made in court, SYLVIA was employed as a regional accounts receivable manager for Haven Health Care Management, LLC. From 2005 to 2008, SYLVIA embezzled funds from nursing home resident trust fund accounts. The nursing homes affected by SYLVIA’s embezzlement include Haven Health Center of Jewett City, Haven Health Center of Norwich, Haven Health Center of Waterford, and Haven Health Center of Soundview in West Haven. SYLVIA took more than $53,000 from the trust fund accounts, and she did not pay income tax on the money she stole.

As part of her sentence, SYLVIA was ordered to pay back taxes and applicable penalties and interest to the government.

This matter stems from a larger investigation into fraud at Haven Healthcare, a chain of nursing homes formerly headquartered in Middletown, Connecticut. That investigation has resulted in convictions of Raymond Termini, the former CEO of Haven Healthcare; Fred Dalicandro, the former Director of Cash Management of Haven Healthcare, and Kimberly Boccacio, the former administrator of Haven Health Center of Jewett City.

This case was investigated by the Health Care Fraud Task Force, including agents from the Offices of the Inspectors General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Social Security Administration, along with agents from the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Medicaid Fraud Control of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Sheldon and Auditor Susan Spiegel.

U.S. Attorney Fein encouraged individuals who suspect health care fraud to report it by calling the Health Care Fraud Task Force at (203) 785-9270 or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.