Owners of Missouri group home where 11 died in 2006 fire convicted of health care fraud

Group home owners convicted of health care fraud

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A husband and wife who owned a Missouri group home where 11 people died in a 2006 fire have been convicted of federal health care fraud.

Prosecutors announced late Thursday that Robert and LaVerne DuPont were each found guilty of one count of fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Robert DuPont was found not guilty of money laundering.

U.S. District Judge Greg Kays delivered the verdicts. Sentencing will occur later.

Robert DuPont had previously been banned from Medicaid reimbursement because of a 2002 fraud conviction. Attorneys for the DuPonts had argued that he was only restricted from actively caring for patients.

The couple’s holdings included the Anderson Guest House, where a fire killed 10 residents and one employee.