Press Release: 10/14/2025
AG’s Office Secures Guilty Plea From Leominster Woman For Posing As Caregiver To Steal From Elderly Victims In Worcester And Middlesex Counties
Defendant Sentenced to Two Years in House of Correction; Ordered to Pay Remaining Restitution to Victims and Barred from Working in Healthcare and with the Elderly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
10/14/2025
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Allie Zuliani, Deputy Press Secretary
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Call Allie Zuliani, Deputy Press Secretary at (617) 727-2543
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Email Allie Zuliani, Deputy Press Secretary at Allie.Zuliani@mass.gov
BOSTON — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) today announced that Regina Henaku, 33, of Leominster, has pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from multiple elderly victims while posing as a professional caregiver and working at health care agencies and long-term care facilities throughout Worcester and Middlesex Counties. Through various jobs as a supposed health care worker, the AGO alleged that Henaku stole the bank cards of at least 16 elderly victims, used the bank cards of 11 of those victims to steal approximately $28,000, and attempted to steal from the rest.
On October 14, 2025, as a result of charges brought by the AGO, Henaku pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to Larceny Over $250 from an Elder or Disabled Person; Credit Card Fraud; Attempted Larceny Over $250 from an Elder or Disabled Person; Identity Fraud; and Witness Intimidation. As a result of the plea, Henaku was sentenced to two years in a House of Correction, with one year to serve and the balance suspended for 2 years. Additionally, Henaku was barred from any work involving the elderly and disabled and from working in health care or social work.
During and following the AGO’s investigation, virtually all of the fraudulent credit card purchases was refunded to victims by their credit card and banking companies. As a result of the plea, Henaku has also been ordered to pay any remaining restitution to victims of her scheme.
In March 2025, the AGO secured indictments against Henaku. The AGO alleged that between August and November 2024, Henaku used the stolen identities and professional credentials of a relative and a former co-worker to fraudulently pose as a professional caregiver and gain employment at five different health care agencies, long-term care facilities, and assisted living facilities. Henaku typically stayed at each job for a period of a few weeks, during which time she allegedly stole the credit or debit cards of elderly victims, including MassHealth members, and then used or attempted to use the cards without the victims’ knowledge.
The locations at which Henaku worked while stealing from the victims include a long-term care facility in Framingham, a senior living facility in Bedford, and assisted living facilities in Hudson and Leominster, amongst others within Worcester and Middlesex Counties.
Additionally, the AGO alleged that while being investigated for her conduct by a local police department, Henaku purposefully misled the police about her identity by fraudulently posing as and using the identity of a relative.
This matter is representative of the AGO’s commitment to protecting elders and advancing elder justice. In August 2023, the AGO established the Elder Justice Unit, which works to advance the rights, safety, and well-being of elders across Massachusetts. In December 2023 and February 2024, the AGO secured indictments against a Springfield Medicaid consultant for stealing thousands of dollars from elderly nursing home residents, her employer, and a local bank. The indictments resulted in the defendant pleading guilty to related charges in January 2025. In June 2024, the AGO announced its largest-ever nursing home settlement with Next Step Healthcare, which paid $4 million and agreed to independent compliance monitoring to resolve allegations that it deliberately understaffed its facilities.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Joanna V. Staley and Senior Healthcare Fraud Investigator Erica Schlain, both of the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division. Substantial assistance was provided by the Holliston, Hopkinton, Bedford, Hudson, Leominster, and Framingham Police Departments. The health care facilities and home health agencies affected also provided substantial assistance to this investigation.
The AGO’s Medicaid Fraud Division is a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, annually certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to investigate and prosecute health care providers who defraud the state’s Medicaid program, MassHealth. The Medicaid Fraud Division also has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute complaints of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of residents in long-term care facilities and of Medicaid patients in any health care setting. Individuals may file a MassHealth fraud complaint or report cases of abuse or neglect of Medicaid patients or long-term care residents by visiting the AGO’s website.
The Massachusetts Medicaid Fraud Division receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $5,922,320 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,974,102 for FY 2025, is funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.