Schneiderman: Mohawk Valley Health Care Center pleads guilty to falsifying business records

ILION, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Health Care Center has pleaded guilty to a falsifying business records in a case involving allegations of covering up resident abuse and neglect that dates to 2013, the office of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Monday.

Mohawk Valley Health Care Center is the d/b/a name of MVNH Associates, LLC.

The corporation pleaded guilty on Monday in an appearance before Herkimer County Court Judge John Crandall. The judge sentenced MVNH Associates, LLC to a $5,000 fine, according to a news release from Schneiderman’s office.

MVNH’s plea involved adding an employee’s name to the staffing sheet on a day that employee did not work.

The plea resolves a case that involved a 45-count indictment that alleged crimes arising from the suppression of two incidents of patient abuse and neglect, and related charges of falsifying records, according to the news release.

The indictment detailed allegations arising from two apparent incidents that happened in May 2013, and an alleged cover up of those incidents.

Not all defendants are charged with every crime alleged in the indictment, except for the corporation, MVNH Associates, Schneiderman’s office said.

In earlier court proceedings two owners, the former administrator, and the former director of nursing had entered guilty pleas.

In a separate civil settlement agreement, MVNH has also agreed to return $1 million in overpayments to the Medicaid program, Schneiderman’s office said.

The company will also hire an independent monitor to implement reforms, including a revamped compliance program

Two of the convicted defendants in the case — and a related investor who owned 44 percent of the company — have agreed to relinquish their ownership in the firm, according to Schneiderman’s release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com