A federal grand jury has indicted Jessa Zayas, a 34-year-old nurse from Santa Clarita, on charges of health care fraud and aggravated identity theft. Acting United States Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the indictment, which accuses Zayas of submitting fraudulent hospice care claims to Medicare amounting to millions of dollars.
Hospice care is designed for terminally ill patients, with Medicare covering certain expenses under specific conditions. To qualify for these payments, a patient must be certified as terminally ill.
Court records reveal that Zayas was the CEO and owner of Healing Hands Hospice and Humane Love Hospice in Van Nuys while holding another full-time job. She allegedly orchestrated fraudulent billing to Medicare for hospice services provided to over 100 individuals who were not terminally ill. The fraudulent activities reportedly took place between June 2023 and May 2025, resulting in at least $2.5 million in false billings.
Zayas and her associates allegedly acquired personal Medicare information by visiting retirement homes in Fresno and Kern Counties after hours when managers were absent. They solicited residents’ information under the pretense of enrolling them in hospice care. Zayas then submitted claims with false representations about patients’ conditions and forged doctors’ certifications when required by Medicare. Payments were directed into bank accounts controlled by Zayas.
The FBI and HHS OIG arrested Zayas last week, executing a search warrant at her residence where they found $77,000 in cash hidden under her bed.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and HHS OIG, with Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Barton and Brittany Gunter prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Zayas could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for health care fraud. An additional mandatory two-year sentence could be imposed for aggravated identity theft, consecutive to any other sentence. Sentencing would be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. It is important to note that these charges are allegations; Zayas is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
