NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A former county worker who coordinated home health care services for disabled people has been accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes for patient referrals.
Myrtha Nicolas is charged with extortion under color of official right. It wasn’t known Monday if the 61-year-old Jersey City resident has retained an attorney.
Nicolas worked for Hudson County’s Office on Aging. She coordinated the assignment of disabled people who needed home health care services to companies that provide home health care aides.
Federal prosecutors say Nicolas was approached in June 2016 by a confidential witness who was a self-employed executive of a home health care company. They say she agreed to accept $500 for each patient she referred to the witness’ company, and various payments continued through October 2017.
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