Former N.M. Business Manager Sentenced to Probation

District Judge Kenneth Martinez has sentenced the ex-business manager of an Albuquerque, N.M., mental health center to five years on probation for insurance and Medicaid fraud.

The state attorney general’s office says 50-year-old Valerie Potter of Rio Rancho pleaded guilty in August to more than 30 counts of fraud and other charges. She also is known as Valerie Kovach.

Potter initially faced 118 counts.

Authorities say she submitted false bills for services at New Life Counseling to Medicaid and private insurance companies in 2002 and 2003. The claims totaled more than $40,000.

Potter also will have to pay back the money and cannot be hired at any federally funded health care program.

She was indicted after a three-year investigation by the attorney general’s office.