Woman steals $600,000; buys boat, watercraft

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - A 45-year-old Lake Charles woman has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to three counts of health care fraud that involved the theft of more than $600,000.

From June 2005 to September 2007, prosecutors say Nikkie A. LeFleur stole the money by billing various insurance companies for treatments that never took place.

LeFleur worked as an account manager for Medical Provider Services in Lake Charles.

She allegedly used the money to buy two Yamaha personal watercraft, a 31-foot Fleetwood Prowler trailer, and a 22-foot Cape Horn offshore series motorboat with a Mercury outboard motor.

LeFleur will be sentenced on May 27.

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Information from: American Press,

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