SPRINGFIELD - Illinois State Police officials say a Decatur woman who pled guilty to embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from nursing home residents has been sentenced to prison.
ISP officials say Kristin Chaudoin, 34, pled guilty to embezzlement, use of an unauthorized access device, and wire fraud on August 5, 2015. On July 22, Chaudoin was sentenced to seven-and-a-half months in Federal Prison, to begin in late August 2016, followed by seven-and-a half months of home confinement. Additionally, she is ordered to pay $36,313.79 in restitution to the Social Security Administration and $4,436.45 to Aperion Care.
Authorities say officials from ISP, the Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau, and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General investigated a 2013 complaint concerning possible misappropriation of money belonging to nursing home residents. ISP officials say the eight-month investigation revealed that Chaudoin allegedly stole from four residents at the Lincoln Rehabilitation Center in Decatur, and North Church Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jacksonville.
Prosecution of the case was handled by the Central District of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
"In this particular case," explains Captain Brian Ley of the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau, "the repercussions include jail time. Through education and enforcement efforts, we try to educate people and when they don't elect to listen, we go after them and investigate. We hope that our efforts are seen by those that are electing to steal from others and we hope that's a deterrence."
