Plymouth daughter, granddaughter, nurse, charged in fatal elder neglect case allegedly involving false MassHealth claims
BROCKTONToday, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced that Eva Cardoso, Kayla Cardoso, and Lisa Hamilton were charged with and arraigned in Brockton Superior Court on a number of charges, including Medicaid fraud, larceny, manslaughter, and caretaker neglect of an elder. According to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office (DAO), Dinora Cardoso, 79, died as a result of the three women’s negligence, despite their responsibility for her well-being.
The AGO and DAO claim that Kayla Cardoso, Dinora’s granddaughter and Eva’s niece, served as Dinora’s PCA Program Surrogate and health care proxy, while Eva Cardoso, Dinora’s daughter, was employed as Dinora’s personal care attendant (PCA). Allegedly, the women submitted bills to MassHealth for services that were never rendered, including those purportedly rendered during Dinora’s hospital stay and following her passing. Furthermore, according to bank records, Eva regularly gave Kayla a portion of her PCA payment. For her PCA care of Dinora, Eva received more than $140,000 from MassHealth.
In the end, Eva reported that her mother needed an ambulance by calling 911 on May 17, 2023. Dinora was found coated in feces, insects, and cockroaches by first responders. Two days later, Dinora passed away in the hospital from sepsis brought on by infected sores and necrotizing fasciitis.
In order to monitor Dinora’s care, health, and medicine consumption, Hamilton, a certified nurse, was required to visit her at least once a week. According to the AGO and DAO’s investigation, Hamilton allegedly paid Dinora a visit at home seven days prior to Eva dialing 911. During their visit, Hamilton said that Dinora was clean, well-cared for, alert, and had her diabetes under control. She didn’t mention cockroaches, bed bugs, feces, or pressure ulcers. It was evident from Dinora’s EMT and hospital records that her diabetes was totally out of control. Furthermore, investigators were told by a knowledgeable entomologist that it would have taken at least a few weeks for Dinora to develop the degree of insect infestation that she had.
The three women were detained and charged with the following on November 22 after being indicted by a grand jury on November 19:
1. Brockton native Eva Cardoso, 53
a. Medicaid fraud, manslaughter, caretaker neglect that results in serious bodily harm, caretaker neglect that permits or engages in abuse, neglect, or mistreatment, and larceny exceeding $1,200
c. $5,000 is the bail amount.
b. Release restrictions include not speaking to witnesses, traveling outside of the state, and working with old or children in a medical facility.
2. Brockton resident Kayla Cardoso, age 31
Medicaid Fraud, Larceny over $1,200, Caregiver Neglect (Permitting or Committing Abuse, Neglect, or Mistreatment), and Caregiver Neglect (Causing Serious Bodily Injury)
b. The $500 bail amount
b. Release restrictions include not speaking to witnesses, traveling outside of the state, and working with old or children in a medical facility.
3. Stoughton resident Lisa Hamilton, 64
Fraudulent Claims, Caregiver Neglect (Permitting or Committing Abuse, Neglect, or Mistreatment), and Caregiver Neglect (Causing Serious Bodily Injury)
b. The $500 bail amount
b. Release restrictions include: avoiding contact with witnesses; traveling outside of the state; and working in a medical facility with children or elderly patients (although Hamilton may continue to work as a nurse under supervision).
A pre-trial hearing for all of the defendants is set for January 15 at 11 a.m. in Brockton Superior Court.
The defendants are deemed innocent until and unless proven guilty, and all of these charges are allegations.
Assistant Attorney General Heidi Gosule, Senior Trial Attorney Elisha Willis, Investigator Ashley Martinez, and Supervising Investigator Dean Bates from the AGO’s Medicaid Fraud Division, along with Sharon Thibeault from the Plymouth DAO, handled this case. The Office of the State Auditor’s Bureau of Special Investigations, the Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office also provided assistance.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services annually certifies the AGO’s Medicaid Fraud Division as a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to look into and bring charges against healthcare providers who defraud MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program. Additionally, the Medicaid Fraud Division is empowered to look into and prosecute claims of financial exploitation, abuse, and neglect against Medicaid patients in any healthcare setting as well as residents of long-term care institutions. On the AGO’s website, anyone can report instances of abuse or neglect of Medicaid patients or long-term care residents, or they can register a Medicaid/MassHealth fraud complaint.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides 75 percent of the financing for the Massachusetts Medicaid Fraud Division with a $5,922,320 grant award for the federal fiscal year 2025. For FY 2025, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides funding for the remaining 25%, or $1,974,102.
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