7 women now charged in $100M Fort Bend hospice fraud scheme

MSN, By John Wayne Ferguson, November 4, 2025

Four more people have been charged in connection with a Fort Bend County Medicare scam, meaning seven are now accused of stealing tens of millions of dollars from the government by charging the health care fund for hospice care for patients who weren't actually dying.

Hattie Banks, Lydia Obere, Cheryl Brooks and Ena Cowart were indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 8. All four were charged with healthcare fraud and two felony conspiracy charges related to the fraud and a plan to receive kickbacks. Banks, Obere and Brooks were also accused of receiving kickbacks.

The indictment also added to the list of charges against three people already charged in connection with the scheme: Dera Ogudo, Victoria Martinez and Evelyn Shaw.

In June, the Justice Department accused the women of participating in a yearslong scam that falsely billed Medicare for more than $100 million.

Ogudo and Martinez owned hospices and group homes in Fort Bend County, including United Palliative & Hospice Care, Cedar Hospice, Residential Hospice, Real Comfort Care and Elizabeth Gardens. Martinez is referred to in court documents as a paper owner who worked for Ogudo.

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