Danieal Kelly: Social Workers Sentenced to Maximum Terms

After being found guilty in Federal Court of conspiracy, multiple counts of health care fraud, lying to federal agents and wire fraud stemming from the death of 14-year-old Danieal Kelly, two employees of the now defunct Multiethnic Behavioral Health Services were sentenced today. Mickal Kamuvaka, 61, co-founder and manager, was sentenced to 17-½ years, and Solomon Manamela, 52, co-founder, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. They still face trial on involuntary manslaughter charges in state court this November, and Manamela, a political refugee from South Africa, faces deportation when released.

Prosecutors argued for sentences above the guidelines, because the defendants' crimes contributed to the brutal death of a child. When the defense protested, claiming that the sentences were emotion-driven and more directed toward punishing them for the death rather than the fraud charges, the Judge stated, "there's no evidence" that Kamuvaka realizes the enormity and depravity of her crimes.

Multiethnic was the agency contracted by the City of Philadelphia's Department of Human Services (DHS) to follow Danieal Kelly, who had cerebral palsy, and make regular visits to her home. Kamuvaka and Manamela were tried in March of this year, along with Mariam Coulibaly and Julius Juma Murray, who were also found guilty.

Kamuvaka and Manamela billed the city for millions of dollars in services, but rarely checked in on the children in their care, including Danieal Kelly. Her 42-pound emaciated body was covered with maggot-infested sores when she died. During the three-week trial, witnesses testified to the defendants fabricating reports and progress notes, or ordering the staff to fabricate them. They also testified that documents were discarded or shredded when the government and DHS began investigating the circumstances surrounding Danieal's death. Former employees also testified that Kamuvaka and Manamela failed to provide proper training and supervision to agency workers.

As reported on NBC Philadelphia, U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell has been vocal that he thinks there's "blame enough to go around," blaming her mother, first and foremost, and political patronage (Kamuvaka had friends at City Hall). Judge Dalzell stated, "It was patronage -- plain and simple. It was a deal, and nobody was taking this seriously" within the city's Department of Human Services." He continued, "Here was a woman with a doctorate in social work who ran the operations of an agency so lackadaisically that, in the words of one of her colleagues, 'It was just a matter of time' that one of her charges died." Dalzell gave Kamuvaka the maximum term and revoked her bail.

Earle McNeill, 72, a psychologist and another co-founder of Multiethnic, was sentenced in April to 90 months in prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges in this case. After determining that McNeill had lied about the amount of his Multiethnic income to the federal probation officer, Judge Dalzell increased his recommended sentenced by 12 months.

Three other Multiethnic employees were sentenced in April as well. Manuelita Buenaflor, 66, another cofounder, received 36 months; Christina Nimpson, 54, a caseworker, received 20 months; and Sotheary Chan, 41, a caseworker and presently a physician's assistant in Fairfax, S.C., received 15 months.

Others charged in relation to Danieal's death include her mother, charged with murder; her father, charged with endangering the welfare of children when he left Danieal in the care of her mother; and three of Andrea Kelly's friends, charged with perjury for lying to the grand jury about the girl's condition before her death. Kelly's mother is serving a 20 to 40-year term after pleading guilty to third-degree murder. Other Multiethnic employees, including Mariam Coulibaly, 42, and Julius Juma Murray, 52, have yet to be sentenced.

For the entire history of this case, visit Patricia Sicilia's Profile Page and search "Danieal Kelly."

Previous Article: The Death of Danieal Kelly, Philadelphia's Shame; Sources: Cofounder of agency in Danieal Kelly case sentenced; Jail for 3 MultiEthnic Workers in Child Death; Two sentenced to long prison terms; Contract Workers get lengthy terms; Patronage led to Danieal Kelly's Death