CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a sweeping nationwide crackdown on healthcare fraud, nine individuals from North and South Carolina have been arrested on federal charges related to a conspiracy to defraud Medicaid programs, officials announced June 30.
The announcement came during a joint press briefing in Charlotte involving attorneys general from both states, the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
While 324 defendants were charged nationally, the local arrests target a scheme where conspirators allegedly bought and sold Medicaid beneficiary information, then submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims for services never provided.
Seven defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and illegal kickbacks:
Donald Calvin Saunders, 62, Charlotte — charged with six counts of healthcare fraud, unlawful purchase of beneficiary IDs, and money laundering.
Vanessa Ragin-Boatright, 59, Manning, S.C. — charged with healthcare fraud and conspiracy to launder money.
Dajuan Strickland, 47, Charlotte and Buffalo, NY — facing multiple healthcare fraud and money laundering counts.
Cynthia Jenkins Harris, 60, Elgin, S.C. — charged with healthcare fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
Latarsa Hitchcock, 56, Jacksonville, N.C.
Stephanie Corbett, 59, Jonesboro, GA.
Karen McClary, 51, Kingstree, S.C.
Separately, David Corey Hill, 54, of Concord, pled guilty to conspiracy and money laundering charges.
Additional arrests include Crystal Sherrell Jackson, 39, Charlotte, accused of submitting fraudulent claims for psychotherapy and urine drug tests, and Tina Marie Armstrong, 67, Florence, S.C., charged with healthcare fraud and aggravated identity theft over false Medicare and Medicaid claims for durable medical equipment.
Also charged is Dee Alice Moton, 51, of Hephzibah, Ga., accused of billing the Veterans Administration over $2.3 million for services not rendered.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted several recent civil settlements totaling nearly $5 million to resolve False Claims Act violations. These include:
Nirvana Hyperbaric Institute, LLC, owner Roger Hunter, and Dr. Herminia De Guzman Ferreras paying $200,000 over false Medicare claims for inadequately supervised treatments.
Steven Osbey, Charlotte clinic owner, agreeing to a $4.7 million judgment for improperly billing Medicaid for physician home visits that never occurred.
Benson I. Ejindu facing False Claims Act allegations for submitting inflated claims for durable medical equipment.
LabXperior Corporation and owner Tina Ball paying $235,000 for billing Medicaid for unnecessary urine drug tests and violating anti-kickback laws.
These arrests and settlements underscore ongoing federal efforts to combat healthcare fraud and protect taxpayer-funded programs across the Carolinas and nationwide.
