Corpus Christi woman accused of defrauding elderly patients returns to court

CHRISTUS Health employees testified in Moraima Montano’s trial, which centers on allegations of fraud, forgery and elderly exploitation.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The trial of Moraima Montano, a Corpus Christi woman accused of defrauding patients who were under her care, entered its fourth day Thursday.

RELATED: Corpus Christi woman in court Thursday for allegedly defrauding multiple elderly patients

Montano faces several charges, including fraud, forgery and exploitation of an elderly person. Investigation reports previously obtained by 3NEWS allege Montano stole thousands of dollars from clients she cared for at group homes.

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Prosecutor Lesleigh Morton, Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, continued presenting witnesses to the jury Thursday, including the chief financial officer of CHRISTUS Health and an employee who works in physician integration and accreditation compliance.

Montano’s attorney, Mark Gonzalez, questioned the witnesses about statements involving Unique Living LLC, a group-home business connected to Montano.

During questioning, Becky Rios, Chief Financial Officer at CHRISTUS Spohn, disputed how their testimony was characterized.

“I did not say ‘defrauded me.’ You are putting words in my mouth,” Rios said. “I said payments to her totaled $236,000 and change.”

Witness testimony also focused on text messages involving a patient who had died. Prosecutors allege Montano continued collecting checks connected to the patient after the person’s death.

“What is the point of the draft in the amount of $4,000-something for a deceased individual?” Roxanne Jenkins, Physician Integration and Accreditation Compliance at CHRISTUS Health said. “That should not have occurred.”

Previous investigation reports detailed allegations of forged checks and unauthorized debit card transactions. Montano is accused of using clients’ money for purchases they did not authorize.

The allegations have not been proven, and Montano is presumed innocent unless convicted.

Prosecutors are expected to continue calling witnesses through the end of the week. The trial is expected to continue into next week, when the defense is anticipated to begin presenting its witnesses.

This is a developing story. 3NEWS will provide updates as the trial continues.