CULVER CITY : Woman Admits Bilking Medi-Cal Out of $3.2 Million

A Culver City woman accused of bilking Medi-Cal of $3.2 million has pleaded guilty to mail fraud charges and made restitution of $1 million, authorities said Monday.

Prosecutors said Barbara Fontaine, 34, operated a medical supply company that submitted bogus Medi-Cal claims for adult disposable diapers and other incontinence supplies. At the time of her arrest in 1990, authorities said it was the largest Medi-Cal fraud scheme ever.

Under federal law, authorities had earlier seized more than $1 million of Fontaine’s assets, including her house, furniture, a Mercedes-Benz and $600,000 in bank accounts and cash, Assistant U.S. Atty. Spurgeon Smith said. Fontaine, who has been in custody since her arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced by a federal judge in October. She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.