Alabama Congressional Aide Indicted on Insurance Fraud Charges

A congressional aide in Alabama has been indicted on insurance fraud charges and was placed on leave from her job.

Alabama news outlets reported that Sherry McCormick, an aide to U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, turned herself in to the Geneva County, Alabama, jail on Monday after a grand jury issued the indictment. She works as Moore’s director of special constituent services and events, in his Dothan office, Al.com reported

A spokesman for the congressman said Moore’s office is aware of the arrest and believes it is the result of a simple misunderstanding, the news outlet noted. The type of alleged insurance fraud was not detailed in the reports.

McCormick has had legal troubles before. In 2018, she was sentenced to eight months in prison after her conviction on health care fraud charges in Georgia. Prosecutors said she submitted almost $500,000 in fraudulent claims for compounded medicines, according to the news reports.

The felony information filed in federal court in the Southern District of Georgia said that from 2013 to 2015, McCormick marketed compounded pain and scar meds to physicians. For each fraudulent prescription, a pharmacy paid McCormick a percentage of what was paid by Medicare or TriCare, the insurance program for members of the military and veterans.

McCormick was asked to pay $447,000 in restitution in monthly installments. After prison, the woman moved to Alabama to live with her mother, Al.com reported.

McCormick’s 2018 conviction was made a campaign issue in 2020 when Moore campaigned for the 2^nd District Congressional seat.

The criminal record was included in an ad campaign by Dothan businessman Jeff Coleman, who opposed Moore, WSFA TV news reported. McCormick had worked for Moore’s campaign then joined his staff in Dothan.