Pa. social workers convicted in federal fraud case

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Four social workers have been convicted in a fraud case stemming from the starvation death of a disabled Philadelphia teenager.

A federal jury in Philadelphia returned the verdicts this afternoon in the trial involving now-defunct MultiEthnic Behavioral Health Inc.

Prosecutors say the company defrauded the city of millions of dollars by not visiting needy families then covering it up with false paperwork.

Two company co-founders were found guilty of all charges, including wire and health-care fraud. Two employees were convicted on 17 of 20 counts.

The charges stem from the 2006 death of 14-year-old Danieal Kelly. Officials say she suffered from maggot-infested bedsores and weighed 42 pounds when she died.

Kelly’s mother, Andrea, is serving 20 to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree murder.