Medicaid fraud added to charges against women accused of causing Melero death

Women accused of causing the death of Mary Melero are now facing Medicaid fraud charges on top of their previous charges.

In a March 28 arraignment hearing for both Angelica Chacon and Patricia Hurtado, the women accused of causing Melero's death, it was revealed that the two women allegedly took part in the fraud with Keyona Zamora, who pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud and falsification of documents in January.

Zamora, at the time, conspired with her mother and two unidentified individuals to commit the fraud while Zamora was under contract employment with At Home Advocacy (AHA). She admitted that she falsely claimed that she gave services to Melero between Sept. 2, 2022, and Jan. 23, 2023, amounting to $8,745. That care never occurred, though AHA paid her via Medicaid through the New Mexico Developmentally Disabled (DD) Waiver program. The alleged services were for Customized Community Supports, which consists of a paid provider taking a DD Waiver client into the community to complete various activities.

According to a supplemental report, Chacon and Hurtado also claimed some of that money and conspired with Zamora to falsify records.

Zamora’s case has been joined with the cases against Chacon and Hurtado. A trial date has not been set yet. All three women will be sentenced together even though Zamora has already admitted guilt.

If Chacon and Hurtado are found guilty of all charges as they stand, they could face nearly 20 years in prison.