Parksley man given suspended sentence for Medicaid Fraud

By Linda Cicoira

A Parksley man was given a suspended sentence Thursday in Accomack Circuit Court for committing Medicaid fraud.

Thirty-nine-year-old Omar Matias, of Second Street, pleaded guilty to two 2018 charges in a plea agreement with Assistant Attorney General Alicia LeClair. She said the defendant falsely claimed payments for his sister’s care because he needed the money.

The agreement called for Matias to be sentenced to five years for each crime with all the time suspended, be prohibited from being a health services provider for the government for 10 years, be on supervised probation for five years, and be on good behavior for 10 years.

He was also ordered to pay restitution of $10,000. Defense lawyer Thomas Northam said the restitution had been paid. Judge Lynwood Lewis accepted the agreement.

The maximum sentence for the crimes is 40 years in prison and a fine of $27,500.

In another case, 34-year-old Kristy L. Godwin, of Holland Road in New Church, was sentenced to five years for felony destruction of property. All but seven months of the term were suspended. A restitution of $3,605 was ordered. Godwin will be on supervised probation for two years.