Columbus Business Owner Sentenced for Medicaid Fraud

Amy Smart must pay restitution and serve supervised release after pleading guilty to health care fraud on October 9, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Substance Abuse

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a monumental stone courthouse facade silhouette, evoking the gravity of the Medicaid fraud sentencing. — Amy Smart of Columbus-based Riverside Recovery Services was sentenced to supervised release and ordered to pay restitution for health care fraud. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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On October 9, 2026, Amy Smart pleaded guilty to health care fraud in a Columbus court following an investigation into her business, Riverside Recovery Services. The court sentenced Smart to 12 months of supervised release and ordered her to pay restitution.

Why it matters

The case concludes a lengthy probe into fraudulent billing practices that targeted state health programs across multiple counties. It highlights the state's efforts to recover funds and restrict individuals with prior records from operating in sensitive financial roles.

Smart must pay $345,093 in restitution to the Ohio Department of Medicaid and adhere to a 12-month term of supervised release. She is also required to maintain employment of at least 30 hours per week.

The players

Amy Smart

She is a business owner previously convicted of crimes in the early 2000s who operated a counseling service in Ohio.

Riverside Recovery Services

This organization provided counseling services across Knox, Lawrence and Coshocton counties before becoming the subject of a fraud investigation.

Ohio Department of Medicaid

This state agency manages health care benefits and was the recipient of the $345,093 in restitution funds.

The details

Smart directed employees at Riverside Recovery Services to inflate counseling services and create fraudulent case management notes to secure higher billing. Prosecutors dismissed 12 additional counts of false health care statements as part of the resolution.

2018 marked the initial receipt of complaints by the Ohio Attorney General.
June 2025 saw a grand jury indict Smart on 13 counts of fraud.
October 9, 2026, was the date of the guilty plea and sentencing.

Health Landscape

This case follows the Ohio Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit enforcement protocols regarding billing integrity. The resolution reflects a broader effort to safeguard federal and state health care benefit programs from administrative manipulation.

Smart is now permanently barred from participating in federal or Ohio health care benefit programs. She is also prohibited from holding any position involving fiduciary responsibility over finances.

The takeaway

This case serves as a reminder of the strict oversight applied to medical billing and the long-term consequences of repeat financial offenses. Business owners in the health sector are reminded that maintaining accurate records is a non-negotiable legal requirement.