Four Arrested in La. for Medicaid Fraud

Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., announced that the following individuals have been arrested and each charged with two counts of Criminal Conspiracy to commit Medicaid Fraud and two counts of Medicaid Fraud:

•Carol Morgan (aka Amelia P. Morgan, Amelia C. Morgan, Carol Purvis Morgan), 164 Parker Road, Haughton, La.
•Janette McKenney (aka Janette Keen McKenney, Janette Keen Hill, Jeanie Hill, Jeanie McKenney), 200 Vickers Road, Haughton, La.
•Cheryl Foster (aka Cheryl Herndon, Cheryl Lynn Foster), 211 Wilson Loop, Benton, La.
•Ernest Goldston (aka Ernie Goldston), 200 Vickers Road, Haughton, La.

According to Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) Investigators, the above individuals allegedly conspired to intentionally defraud the Louisiana Medical Assistance Program by presenting false or fraudulent claims for services that were not provided.

Community Care Inc. in Bossier City is a Medicaid service provider and participates in the New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) program. NOW is a waiver program designed to provide Home and Community Based services to disabled recipients, which allows recipients to live as independently as possible at home and in the community. These NOW services are a supplement to the regular Medicaid State Plan services that eligible clients receive.

Janette McKenney, administrator of Community Care and her husband, Ernest Goldston a former employee of Community Care, along with Carol Morgan, owner, and Cheryl Foster, comptroller of Community Care, reportedly conspired to bill the Medicaid program for fraudulent billing regarding services to McKenney’s daughter, an eligible NOW services recipient.

McKenney’s daughter receives personal care attendant services from Community Care, specifically from Goldston and McKenney. McKenney allegedly signed and approved time sheets for work performed by Goldston for her daughter.

In May 2004, the Department of Health and Hospitals notified Community Care that Janette McKenney and Goldston, were not allowed to provide services to McKenney’s daughter according to state and federal policy. Despite this notification, investigators allege, based on interviews with former employees of Community Care, Carol Morgan and Cheryl Foster continued to submit the fraudulent billing claims turned in by McKenney and Goldston to Medicaid for payment. The state, through the Medicaid Program paid these claims.

Every Medicaid claim and payment is processed by UNISYS, located at United Plaza Boulevard in Baton Rouge.

All four persons were booked into the Bossier Parish Prison on Jan.24, 2006, on arrest warrants from East Baton Rouge Parish. They were transferred to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison by special agents from the AG’s office. Bond was set at $15,000 for each and they bonded out on Jan. 25.

In connection with the arrest of these individuals, the AG’s office also was able to have the District Court in Bossier Parish issue an order freezing the bank accounts and assets of the arrestees to prevent the liquidation of assets the state alleges were acquired with Medicaid monies through the illegal activities of Morgan, Foster, McKenney and Goldston.

Medicaid Fraud carries a penalty of up to five years in prison with or without hard labor and a fine of up to $20,000.

Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Medicaid Fraud carries a penalty of up to 2 1/2 years in prison with or without hard labor and a fine of up to $10,000.