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Attorney General Jeff Landry Announces Louisiana Success in Nationwide Medicaid Fraud Takedown

2016 National Health Care Fraud Takedown Nabs Nine in State Accused of 50 Counts

BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry today unveiled numerous arrests as part of the 2016 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, the largest fraud takedown in the program’s history.

“Medicaid fraud steals taxpayer money and threatens care for our state’s vulnerable. This unlawful and immoral act will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by our office. We are committed to ruling out waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid so we can help protect the program for people who really need the assistance,” said General Landry.

“In the last three days as part of the 2016 Takedown, our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in conjunction with the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the USDOJ have arrested nine alleged perpetrators for Medicaid fraud, theft by fraud, fraudulent remuneration, perjury, filing and/or maintaining false public records, and criminal conspiracy to commit theft by fraud,” continued General Landry.

“Today’s announcement is further proof that our office policy to align closely with federal agencies is working. With recent budget cuts, our national-award winning Medicaid Fraud Control Unit may have to rely more on these partners to help bring to justice criminals who threaten care for our State’s vulnerable and steal Louisiana taxpayer money,” concluded General Landry.

More than 300 people across the nation – including the following suspects who surrendered and were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison – have been charged with stealing more than $900 million from the Medicaid program:

Airrica Douglas of Marrero was arrested on five counts of Medicaid Fraud while employed as a Direct Service Worker by a licensed Medicaid provider.

Mary Solomon of Donaldsonville was arrested on one count of Theft by Fraud, one count of Fraudulent Remuneration, and two counts of Medicaid Fraud while employed as a Direct Service Worker by a licensed Medicaid provider.

Olivia Solomon of Donaldsonville was arrested on one count of Medicaid Fraud and one count of Perjury while employed as a Direct Service Worker by a licensed Medicaid provider.

Jevon Solomon of Donaldsonville was arrested on one count of Filing and/or Maintaining False Public Records and two counts of Theft by Fraud while employed as a Direct Service Worker by a licensed Medicaid provider.

Katrina Varnado of Marrero was arrested on one count of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud and six counts of Theft by Fraud while employed as an Office Worker by a licensed Medicaid provider.

Thomas Zorthian of Marrero was arrested on two counts of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud and seven counts of Theft by Fraud while employed as an Office Worker by a licensed Medicaid provider.

Eula Matthews of Marrero was arrested on two counts of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud and eleven counts of Theft by Fraud while employed as a driver for a licensed Medicaid provider.

Kierra Antoine of Marrero was arrested on four counts of Medicaid Fraud while employed as a Direct Service Worker by a licensed Medicaid provider.

Felicia Evans of Marrero was arrested on three counts of Medicaid Fraud while employed as a Direct Service Worker by a licensed Medicaid provider.

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Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) aggressively combats the fleecing of taxpayers by fraudulent health care providers by seeking to protect our most vulnerable citizens and vigorously prosecuting criminals who prey on them. Two weeks ago, General Landry’s MFCU received the United States Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General’s Award of Excellence in Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.