Date: 07-29-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Melissa J. Watson

Case Number: 2:23-cr-00066

Judge: Darrel J. Papillion

Court: The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Orleans Parish)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in New Orleans

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

New Orleans, Louisiana criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Pandemic-Related Healthcare Fraud
Slidell Woman Sentenced to Year and a Day in Prison and Ordered to Repay the Government Over $1.2 Million in Restitution for Pandemic-Related Healthcare Fraud

Melissa J. WATSON, of Sidelle, operated a primary care clinic. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WATSON submitted false and fraudulent attestations on behalf of her clinic to obtain PRF funds, to which she was not entitled. WATSON’s fraudulent attestations included falsely affirming that funds would only be used by the clinic to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus, and reimburse health care related expenses or lost revenues attributable to coronavirus. Instead, WATSON used the PRF funds for personal purposes, including making numerous cash withdrawals and purchasing, among other items, hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate, a luxury vehicle, a boat, a trailer, and a time share.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General.

Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters and Assistant Chief Justin Woodard, both of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, Healthcare Fraud Coordinator for the Eastern District of

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, and payment of restitution totaling $1,281,818.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: