GREENFIELD — A Medicaid false claims case against two personal care attendants who worked in South Deerfield has been continued without a finding for two years, during which time the defendants will be on probation and required to pay restitution.

John Baracewicz, 61, of Danvers, and Isaiah Salaam, 39, of Greenfield, appeared in Franklin County Superior Court on Thursday to plead guilty to three charges each, though the pleas will not be entered unless they violate probation in the next 24 months. Both men admitted to the facts listed in court by state Assistant Attorney General Scott Grannemann and, as part of the plea agreement, are no longer allowed to work as PCAs.

Baracewicz must pay $12,037 in restitution, while Salaam must pay $4,800 after each pleaded guilty to single counts of Medicaid false claims, larceny over $1,200 and Medicaid kickbacks.

Grannemann told Judge Tracy Duncan that the state attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud Division investigated the PCA services provided to Brenda Bialecki, who was enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program, known as MassHealth. He explained the PCA program enables consumers to live independently by providing someone to help with certain daily activities, such as dressing and bathing. These services are paid for by MassHealth based on timesheets signed by the PCAs and the consumer.

According to Grannemann, Baracewicz and Salaam were assigned to be Bialecki’s PCAs. From August 2017 through September 2022, he said Baracewicz, Salaam and Bialecki deliberately submitted timesheets recording more hours than were worked.

“These hours included overnight services, which the PCAs did not provide,” Grannemann said.

Baracewicz and Salaam would withdraw about half of each of their PCA paychecks and give that money to Bialecki, according to Grannemann. This constitutes a kickback. Bialecki, who formerly lived in South Deerfield and now lives in Florida, faces the same three charges. Her next court date is June 6.

Grannemann said MassHealth paid $98,836 for claims for PCA services that were tainted by the kickback scheme or were otherwise false. Included in those figures is at least $66,018 paid for hours not worked.

Salaam was represented by attorney Dan Solomon. Baracewicz, who was represented by attorney Alexander Conley, told the judge he wants to “go forward with my life and never do anything like this again.”

According to the AG’s office, people aware of similar practices by those involved in the PCA program or by other health care providers should call the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division at 617-963-2360 or file an online complaint at tinyurl.com/MedicaidComplaint.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.