Woman pleads guilty to Medicaid fraud in case related to Melero death

Keyona Zamora pleaded guilty to three counts of Medicaid Fraud and three counts of falsification of documents in mid-December in a case that is related to the those against caretakers accused of causing the death of developmentally disabled woman, Mary Melero.

The fraud incidents took place from Nov. 12, 2022, to Jan. 24, 2023.

Court documents say the sentencing of Zamora will not take place until the cases against Angelica Chacon and Patricia Hurtado are resolved. Zamora is required to testify in both cases, which have been combined. Chacon’s and Hurtado’s conditions of release were modified earlier this month, making it a requirement that they do not contact Zamora in any way.

The courts detail a basic sentence for each charge. Zamora will face nine years in prison and have to pay more than $30,000 in fines if sentenced. However, should Zamora get a maximum sentence, the penalty could be life in prison.

The details of why Zamora was charged with the fraud and how it ties to Melero’s death have not been made available yet.