OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A local mental health counselor has been indicted on multiple federal charges in connection with an alleged years-long insurance fraud scheme.
Michelle Forsythe, 61, of Ocala, was arrested following an indictment charging her with 14 counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud charge and a mandatory two-year sentence for the identity theft charge, to be served consecutively.
Federal prosecutors say Forsythe, a licensed mental health counselor, used the names and insurance information of 22 individuals without their knowledge to fraudulently bill two health insurance companies for services she never provided between January 2016 and December 2022. In at least one case, she allegedly billed for counseling sessions using the identity of someone she had never treated.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $483,511.44, which authorities say represents the proceeds of the offenses.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal charge, and Forsythe is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
More news that matters to you…
-
If you sell from the roadside in Marion County, these rules are coming back
Marion County commissioners sent proposed food truck and roadside vendor rules back to staff after operators said the Aug. 26 draft was too vague to follow.
-
The 352Today Halloween Guide to all things Halloween-y in North Central Florida is here
From Ocala to Dunnellon, Citra and beyond, we’ve got you covered for Halloween fun.
-
Halloween in the 352: Your comprehensive calendar of spooky events
The month many revelers and scare-me-sillies wait for all year is here, and there’s more than enough to do in North Central Florida this Halloween season.
-
The 352’s Most Haunted: 7 places with spooky stories
From historic buildings and former hotels to a theater and an eerie stretch of road, these seven real places around the 352 have developed reputations for paranormal activity and spooky stories.
-
Marion County Sheriff’s Office and National Weather Service announce next Skywarn workshop
Join the network of amateur weather spotters who are trained to know what to look for, and how to report it.