Woman Guilty of HIPAA Regulation Violations
Posted/updated on: July 25, 2012 at 2:28 am
LUFKIN — An Angelina County woman has pleaded guilty to federal violations. Joneshia Cranford, 33, of Lufkin, pleaded guilty to wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information in an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn in Lufkin.
Federal prosecutors say, from 2005 to 2008, Cranford, an employee of a Lufkin-area health care provider, stole protected health information, including patient names, dates of birth, social security numbers, Medicare numbers, and Medicaid numbers and sold the information to Shavator Albro, 35, and Francis “Frank” Ibiok, 28, both of Houston. Cranford’s actions are a criminal violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Cranford faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. Albro and Ibiok have pleaded guilty to health care fraud and identity theft offences and face up to 15 years in federal prison.
