Stamford counselor charged

NEW CANAAN -- A Stamford counselor living in town was arrested on Monday for allegedly filing hundreds of fraudulent Medicaid claims, officials say.

In a release, the state's attorney's office said Andrew Golden, 55, was arrested by inspectors from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and charged with one count each of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and health insurance fraud.

The state's attorney's office said Golden is a licensed professional counselor, and is listed as an individual practitioner and the 100 percent owner of his Stamford practice. Between January 2020 and July 2022, it said, Golden billed for behavioral health counseling sessions that were not rendered.

"Evidence acquired during the investigation showed Golden was not meeting with clients as reported," it said. "However, he was submitting claims to the Department of Social Services for payment."

The state's attorney's office said the investigation concluded that Golden had fraudulently billed Medicaid and received $80,300 in Medicaid payments he was not entitled to. It said Golden was released on $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Dec. 29.

"The charges are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty," it said.

If found guilty and convicted, each charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.