Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe has announced the arrest of Michelle Forsythe, a 61-year-old licensed mental health counselor from Ocala, on charges of 14 counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to the indictment, Forsythe allegedly engaged in fraudulent activities from January 2016 to December 2022, using the identities and insurance information of 22 individuals without their knowledge to overbill two health insurance companies.
If convicted, Forsythe faces significant penalties, including up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and a mandatory two-year sentence for the aggravated identity theft charge, which must be served consecutively to any other sentences. The indictment also includes a notice that the United States intends to seize $483,511.44, believed to be the proceeds of the fraudulent activities.
Court records detail that Forsythe falsely claimed to have provided counseling services to individuals whose identities she used, leading insurance companies to electronically transfer payments to her for services that were never rendered. In one particular instance, Forsythe allegedly billed for counseling services using the information of a person she had never treated.
The investigation into these allegations was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The case is set to be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. It is important to note that an indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, and Forsythe is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
