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Rhode Island
Two Rhode Island residents charged in $6.5 billion healthcare fraud crackdown
Two Rhode Island residents were charged after the Justice Department announced a $6.5 billion healthcare fraud crackdown.
The department said 455 defendants were charged, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes.
Mareli Arias Batista, 57, of Providence, was charged with false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, false statement in application for a passport, use of a false passport and bank fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using the identity of another person.
Officials said Batista fraudulently obtained approximately $28,236.42 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits.
Balni Pimental Lara, 59, of Providence, was also charged with false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and health care fraud, in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using the identity of another person.
According to officials, Lara fraudulently obtained approximately $24,018.86 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits.
Bhamin Chhatrapati, 40, of Stoughton, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with over $5.1 million fraudulently billed to Medicare, of which over $2.6 million was paid.
Approximately 1,079 medical providers were suspended and billing privileges were revoked for 1,403 providers.
Awilda Perez Goris was arrested shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday on charges of obtaining more than $10,000 under false pretenses and accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes, the Rhode Island State Police said in a media release.
Perez Goris, a resident of Uxbridge, was processed at the Wickford Barracks, arraigned and issued a notice to appear in court, according to the release.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Foundation is offering three composers $30,000 grants — applications due Aug. 10 – What’s Up Newp
Rhode Island composers have until August 10 to apply for $30,000 fellowships from the Rhode Island Foundation, with three grants available to emerging and mid-career musicians looking to advance their work.
The grants come through the Foundation’s Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund and are unrestricted — meaning recipients can use the money however best serves their artistic growth, whether that’s creating new work, purchasing equipment, traveling, researching, or training in new technologies and techniques.
Applicants must have lived in Rhode Island for at least 12 months before the deadline. Current high school and college students, graduate students enrolled in degree programs, and composers at advanced levels of career achievement are not eligible. Submissions may be in any genre, including chamber, choral, contemporary, electronic, experimental, jazz, opera, musical theater, symphonic, and world music.
Recipients are selected by a panel of out-of-state industry professionals managed by the Artist Communities Alliance. Previous fellows include cellist Adrienne Taylor, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Courtney Swain, and electroacoustic composer Kristina Warren.
The MacColl Johnson Fellowships rotate among composers, writers, and visual artists on a three-year cycle; next year’s round will go to writers. The fund was established in 2003 in honor of Rhode Islanders Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson, both devoted to the arts throughout their lives.
More information and applications are at artistcommunities.org.
LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) — First responders in Lincoln conducted an extensive search of the waters at Lincoln Woods Beach Sunday evening.
Officials say they received a credible call about a possible drowning. The response caused multiple boats in the water and crews also deployed a drone.
Divers were also seen on the beach and in the water. Multiple departments responded.
The Rhode Island DEM was also on scene.
Access close to the beach was blocked off. Some nearby roads were also blocked off within the park.
After a near four hour search, officials determined there was no one in the water.
Officials stressed the importance of water and swim safety during the summer months.
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