Press Releases
OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES OF LOCAL MEDICAID AGENCY FACE 78-COUNT INDICTMENT FOR FEDERAL HEALTH CARE OFFENSES
June 5, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AKASIA LEE, age 35, a resident of New Orleans, MICHAEL DAVIS, age 34, a resident of Westwego, D’JUAN ROBINSON, age 29, a resident of Marerro, QUEBAN LEE, age 31, a resident of Columbus, Texas, UNA FAVORITE BROWN, age 52, a resident of New Orleans, MELINDA LANGLEY, age 47, a resident of New Orleans, and ERNESTINE GIROD, age 42, a resident of Marrero, were indicted today by a federal grand jury sitting in New Orleans for conspiracy and multiple counts of health care fraud, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. Additionally, GIROD and BROWN were charged with three counts each of making false statements to federal law enforcement agents.
According to the indictment, AKASIA LEE and MICHAEL DAVIS were owners and operators of A New Beginning of New Orleans, Inc.(ANBNO), a Medicaid Provider located in Harvey, Louisiana that made claims for Personal Care Services it claimed to have provided to Medicaid recipients. D’JUAN ROBINSON, QUEBAN LEE, UNA FAVORITE BROWN and MELINDA LANGLEY were employees of ANBNO, and ERNESTINE GIROD was the mother of Medicaid recipients.
Personal Care Services (PCS) are Medicaid services provided by attendants to eligible recipients meeting the medical necessity criteria who are unable to care for themselves. The indictment alleges that ANBNO solicited mothers with children who had Medicaid benefits to apply for PCS. It is alleged that in many cases, a false prescription for PCS was created and transmitted to Medicaid; and in other cases, true prescriptions were transmitted relative to children with true disabilities.
It is further alleged that after Medicaid approved the PCS applications, false documentation containing employees’ time sheets and daily schedules which detailed the services rendered to Medicaid child recipients was created by employees of ANBNO and parents of the Medicaid recipient children. The indictment charges that from the time of the inception of ANBNO through May 4, 2005, Medicaid paid approximately $3,977,288 as a result of the fraudulent claims made by ANBNO and its employees.
AKASIA LEE faces up to seven hundred fifteen (715) years in prison and fines of up to $18 million. MICHAEL DAVIS faces up to five (5) years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. D’JUAN ROBINSON faces up to one hundred thirty-five (135) years in prison and fines of up to $3.5 million. QUEBAN LEE faces up to seventy-five (75) years in prison and fines of up to $2 million. MELINDA LANGLEY faces up to one hundred thirty-five (135) years in prison and fines of up to $3.5 million. UNA FAVORITE BROWN faces up to one-hundred twenty (120) years in prison and fines of up to $3.5 million. ERNESTINE GIROD faces up to two hundred seventy (270) years in prison and fines of up to $7,250,000. The U. S. Attorney reminds citizens that the statutory maximum penalties notwithstanding, the U. S. Sentencing Guidelines, although not mandatory, still remain advisory in the fashioning of sentences by the Court.
Special Agent in Charge Mike Fields of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigators, stated:
“Today’s action sends a message to those who take advantage of the Louisiana Medicaid Program. The Office of Inspector General, Dallas Regional Office will continue to work aggressively with our federal and state law enforcement partners to eliminate this type of fraudulent conduct in our health care systems.”
Fred Duhy, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Director, added:
“Today’s indictment sends a clear message that fraud in the Medicaid program will not be tolerated. I am pleased that the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit was able to assist the federal government with this investigation.”
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that today’s indictment is a charge, and that the guilt of each defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Patrice Harris Sullivan.
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