Former Atlantic Beach resident arrested for fraud

A former Atlantic Beach woman was charged with multiple felonies, including grand larceny, as she practiced psychology without a license, treated patients and billed insurance companies, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

Amora Rachelle, 35, now of Los Angeles, was arrested in Westbury on Tuesday by DA investigators. Between 2008 and last year, Rachelle called herself Dr. Amora and treated patients in her home. In 2008, she allegedly provided mental health services to a car accident victim and fraudulently received more than $3,400 from insurance company GEICO for “psych” services rendered.

A year later, Rachelle, with only a Limited Permit, that allows an individual to practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, lied to the New York State Courts on an application to be a court-appointed psychologist (she was unsuccessful) and continued to illegally treat patients in December 2009 after being denied a full license by the New York State Department of Education, Office of Professions, the DA’s office said.

Still unlicensed, Rachelle continued to see patients through her personal practice, Health I.Q., from November 2009 through early 2010. After the initial three months of visits, she refused to give the patients the necessary diagnostic codes so they could be reimbursed from their insurance companies. Those patients had to pay more than $8,000 for those visits.

The initial investigation by the state’s Education Department, Office of Professional Discipline began as part of her license application process. They referred to the case to the DA’s office and assisted in that investigation.

Rachelle was charged with grand larceny-third degree, falsifying business records-first degree, scheme to defraud-first degree, and unauthorized practice, all felonies. Bail was set at $10,000 bond or $5,000 cash. She is due back in court on Nov. 18. If convicted, Rachelle faces to seven years in prison.

“The real victims in this are Rachelle’s unsuspecting patients who thought they were being treated by a licensed professional,” said Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice. “Unfortunately, they were being strung along by a con artist who built her medical practice on greed and lies.”