Phony Psychiatrist Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Defrauding Patients, Doctors, and Insurance Companies

PHILADELPHIA—Jo Benoit, a.k.a. Elissa JoBenoit, 77, of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 72 monthsin prison for a health care fraud scheme that included posing as a psychiatristwhen she was not one and writing prescriptions for people who suffered fromserious mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stressdisorder, and other serious conditions. More than 50 patients were victims ofBenoit’s scam. In addition to the patients she defrauded and exposed toimproper treatment, Benoit stole the identifying information of legitimatepsychiatrists and forged prescriptions in their names. She also used onepsychiatrist’s identity to bill insurance companies more than $500,000 forpatient visits. Benoit was convicted by a federal jury on June 12, 2012, of 76counts of health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, distribution ofcontrolled substances, and distribution of controlled substances to minors.
The defendant was immediately taken intocustody to begin serving her six-year prison sentence. In addition, thedefendant was ordered to pay forfeiture and to pay restitution in the fullamount that she defrauded patients and insurance companies. In total, she isrequired to make the victims whole in the amount of $422,583.62. In addition,she was ordered to pay a special assessment of $7,600, and she is subject tothree years of supervised release.
Benoit was the CEO and founder of amental health clinic called Transition Phase III from February 4, 2009, untilthe clinic was closed after a search warrant was executed in July 2011. Sheadvertised the clinic as a trauma-specific mental health clinic directed atvictims of trauma, children, and members of the military and their families.Benoit provided forged prescriptions to the patients at the clinic andmedicated the patients that she purported to be treating. Benoit also wroteprescriptions to children, one as young as 4 years old. During the course ofher fraud, the defendant exposed those patients to a serious risk of harm andleft them without appropriate treatment.
“This case demonstrates the many seriousproblems associated with health care fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge NickDiGiulio, of the Inspector General’s Office for the United States Department ofHealth and Human Services in Philadelphia. “Jo Benoit illegally prescribeddangerous drugs to children and military veterans. She lied to patients abouther credentials, provided sham psychiatric services to those with seriousmental traumas, stole the identities of legitimate health care professionals,and lied to our insurance programs for money. We will continue to worktirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our citizens from theseatrocious crimes.”
The case was investigated by the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, theDefense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney MatthewJ.D. Hogan.