A federal judge sentenced a Crown Point woman to seven years in prison on January 8, 2026, after she pleaded guilty to health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Christine Reese, 62, received an 84-month prison sentence and was ordered to pay $268,746.37 in restitution.
Court records show Reese falsely claimed she was a licensed clinical psychologist and held a Doctor of Psychology degree. In reality, she lacked those credentials and had more than ten prior felony convictions. Using forged and fraudulent documents, Reese persuaded a mental health services provider in Munster, Indiana, to hire her as a clinical therapist. She later secured work with another provider using the same false qualifications.
Reese conducted therapy sessions with patients at the Munster facility, including Indiana Medicaid recipients and children. She later continued representing herself as a psychologist and treated patients from her home under the business name Sanctuary Counseling. Throughout this period, she fraudulently billed for services she claimed to provide, ultimately defrauding Indiana Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As part of the scheme, Reese stole the identities of three legitimate medical professionals. She used their names and license numbers to enroll in Indiana Medicaid and submit fraudulent claims.
Federal officials said the case highlights the serious harm caused by health care fraud, particularly when it targets vulnerable patients and taxpayer-funded programs. Investigators emphasized that such crimes undermine trust in the health care system and place patients, especially children, at risk.
The investigation involved the Indiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin F. Wolff prosecuted the case.