MICHIGAN — The former CEO of the Oxford Center, already charged in a fatal hyperbaric chamber explosion, now faces additional felony charges for health care fraud, according to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.
Tamela Peterson was arraigned Tuesday, Jan. 20, on nine counts of health care fraud related to false claims. She was granted a $10,000 personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 27. Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to four years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine.
State prosecutors allege that Peterson knowingly participated in and directly benefited from fraudulent health care billing practices. The investigation into the alleged fraud began in September 2022.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement that filing false health care claims harms patients, providers, and the broader public by driving up medical and insurance costs. She added that her office will continue pursuing accountability for those who exploit the health care system for personal gain.
Peterson is also facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with a January 2025 hyperbaric chamber explosion that killed 5-year-old Thomas Cooper. Two other individuals, Jeff Mosteller and Gary Marken, have been charged with second-degree murder, while a fourth, Aleta Moffitt, faces an involuntary manslaughter charge.
Prosecutors allege the Oxford Center failed to take basic safety precautions before the child’s treatment, including performing required maintenance checks. Authorities further claim no medical doctor or safety supervisor was present and that treatment was not administered by a licensed technician.
Investigators also allege a required safety ground strap was not used on the child, an issue that has played a central role in the preliminary examination.
As with all criminal proceedings, Peterson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
