Five people convicted of Medicaid and wire fraud have been sentenced in Mississippi, Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced.
The cases involved over $120,000 in fraud, according to Fitch’s office.
Since taking office, Fitch claims her office has achieved 65 criminal convictions and 62 civil settlements involving fraud, totaling more than $105 million for Mississippi taxpayers.
“These convictions serve as a reminder that here in Mississippi, we are taking fraudsters head-on,” Fitch stated. “The strong partnership between our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Mississippi’s Division of Medicaid stops you from being fleeced and ensures the money for this program gets to those it was meant to help.”
The defendants were punished for fraudulent billing, wire fraud, and/or providing fake documentation to deceive the government:
- Ahyana Nicole Crosby, 34, of Laurel — sentenced Oct. 2 by Madison County Circuit Court Judge Dewey K. Arthur.
- Angela Nannette Crosby, 51, of Laurel — sentenced Oct. 2 by Judge Arthur.
- Taylor Christian Rushing, 34, of Gautier — sentenced Sept. 28 by Madison County Circuit Court Judge M. Bradley Mills.
- Yolanda Evette Blackman, 54, of Hattiesburg — sentenced Oct. 2 by Judge Arthur.
- Linda Jenkins, 46, of Hermanville — sentenced Sept. 14 by Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Damon R. Stevenson.
The cases were part of Fitch’s work for the United States Department of Justice’s National Health Care Fraud Takedown this summer.
The worldwide operation resulted in criminal charges against 455 defendants from 45 states and territories for suspected health care fraud schemes totaling more than $6.5 billion in intended damages. Fitch announced 11 indictments related to the takedown, totaling over $12.3 million.
Anyone who suspects Medicaid fraud may file a complaint with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
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