newjerseynewsroom.com

Mary F. Rizzuto of Toms River, a licensed clinical social worker, was sentenced to 90 days in the Ocean County Jail and five years of probation for fraudulently billing insurance companies for services she did not perform.

Rizzuto, 51, was sentenced by state Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels in Toms River, according to state Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi.

Rizzuto also must pay $76,304 in restitution.

The sentence is based on Rizzuto’s guilty plea to an accusation charging her with third-degree theft by deception. She also faces disciplinary proceedings before the state Board of Social Work Examiners concerning her license.

In pleading guilty on Sept. 12, Rizzuto admitted that between Jan 3, 2003 and Nov. 22, 2008, she fraudulently obtained money from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Guardian Life Insurance Co. by submitting claims for professional services she did not provide.

The investigation began after one of Rizzuto’s former clients received an Explanation of Benefits document from his health care insurance company indicating that Rizzuto had submitted claims for payment for more than twenty counseling sessions that had not taken place.

Det. Natalie Brotherston and Deputy Attorney General Geraldine D. Zidow were assigned to the investigation.

—TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM