A Patrick Springs couple has been indicted on multiple fraud charges, according to Sheriff Dan Smith.
Amanda Wyatt Nester, 31, and Gary Wayne Nester, 42, both of VFW Road, were indicted Monday by a Patrick County grand jury following an eight-month investigation by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff said the 16 indictments allege that the couple provided false statements on Medicaid applications in July of 2015, including attempting to create the appearance that they had separated in order to receive free health care benefits (Medicaid) for their two children.
Smith said that Gary Nester gave false information in order to change his physical address to a location where no residence or structure existed.
The investigation shows documented incidents and surveillance that indicate that the couple had in fact never separated, according to the sheriff.
Smith said the indictments also allege that Amanda Nester provided false information on numerous occasions relating to a Medicaid program known as Public Partnerships LLC, in which she was supposed to be the in-house caregiver to a relative.
Smith said that surveillance conducted by his office showed that Nester was claiming and being paid for hours worked when she was never at the location.
Both individuals were previously convicted in Patrick County Circuit Court in 2008 of fraud, stemming from a similar charge of providing false information to receive benefits.
The Patrick County Department of Social Services, the Patrick County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office in Roanoke assisted in the investigation.
