Georgia nurse practitioner convicted of health care fraud
Fraudulent orders included knee brace for leg amputee, and a back brace for a recently deceased patient.
These types of fraud can be linked to false claims Identity Theft. Cases like these can sometimes involve false claims Identity Theft, which can have serious consequences for both patients and medical providers. In fact, false claims Identity Theft is a growing problem in the healthcare industry.
A Rockdale County nurse practitioner is facing significant federal prison time after a jury found her guilty of orchestrating a sweeping telemedicine fraud scheme that exploited elderly Medicare beneficiaries and generated millions in false claims related to Identity Theft.
Sherley L. Beaufils, 43, of Conyers, Georgia, was convicted after a two‑day federal trial on multiple charges, including:
- Conspiracy to receive illegal kickbacks
- Five counts of Health Care Fraud
- Five counts of False Statements Related to Health Care
- Five counts of Aggravated Identity Theft
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, each health care fraud count carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two‑year sentence per count, and the remaining charges carry up to five years each. Federal sentences also include substantial fines and supervised release — and there is no parole in the federal system. In this case, false claims and Identity Theft are at the center of the prosecution.
Part of “Operation Brace Yourself”
Beaufils was charged as part of Operation Brace Yourself, a nationwide crackdown targeting fraudulent telemedicine schemes involving unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME), especially those connected to false claims and Identity Theft.
“Sherley Beaufils profited by signing unnecessary orders for orthotic braces for patients she never examined or spoke to,” said U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. “Her greed was her undoing — and she is now being held accountable for targeting the elderly with her serial fraud.”
How the Scheme Worked
Evidence presented at trial showed that Beaufils:
- Facilitated over 3,000 fraudulent orders for orthotic braces
- Generated more than $3 million in false or excessive Medicare charges
- Signed fake medical records claiming she examined patients she never met
- Approved braces for individuals who clearly did not need them — including
- A knee brace for an amputee
- A back brace for a recently deceased patient
Telemarketers working with her co‑conspirators harvested personal information from senior citizens and packaged it as “leads.” Beaufils then signed off on fabricated medical documentation in exchange for kickback payments. The fraudulent orders and false claims connected to Identity Theft were sold to DME companies that billed Medicare for reimbursement.
Beaufils was acquitted on one additional conspiracy charge.
Federal Agencies Respond
Federal investigators emphasized the seriousness of the scheme and the impact on taxpayers. Schemes involving false claims and Identity Theft undermine public trust in Medicare.
“Fraudsters will be held accountable for their greed‑fueled fraud schemes,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge for HHS‑OIG. “We will continue working with our partners to protect federal health care programs.”
Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, added:
“The level of greed shown by Beaufils is shocking. Health care costs rise when providers bill for unnecessary or incomplete services, and we will use every resource necessary to stop it.”
Case Background
The investigation into false claims and Identity Theft was conducted by:
- FBI
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Patricia G. Rhodes.