County Social Worker to Repay $76K in Fraud Plea Deal

An Ocean County social worker agreed to pay more than $76,000 in restitution as part of a plea agreement reached after she fraudulently billed insurance companies from 2003 to 2008.

Mary F. Rizzuto, a 51-year-old licensed clinical social worker from Toms River, entered a guilty plea to third-degree deception by theft on Sept. 12 before Judge Wendel E. Daniels, according to a news release from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. 

Rizzuto admitted to fraudulently submitting claims for professional services which were never provided to Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Guardian Life Insurance Company from Jan. 3, 2003 to Nov. 22, 2008, according to the release.

Sentencing before Daniels is scheduled for Nov. 4. In addition to the restitution payment, state prosecutors also will recommend that Rizzuto be sentenced to five years of probation after serving 90 days in county jail, the release states.

The New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners is also expected to begin disciplinary proceedings against Rizzuto.

An investigation into the fraud began after a former client of Rizzuto received a benefits document from his insurance company showing that the social worker had filed claims for more than 20 counseling sessions that never occurred, according to the release.

The investigation was completed by Detective Natalie Brotherston and Deputy Attorney General Geraldine D. Zidow, who represented the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at the plea hearing.