Jackson, Miss. – A Vicksburg man, Laron Evans, was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate after he pled guilty to several charges related to health care fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. In addition to his prison sentence, Evans was ordered to pay $1,917,231.26 in restitution to the victims involved in the fraudulent scheme.
Fraudulent Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
Evans, alongside co-defendant Travious Quinshad Jackson, orchestrated a sophisticated fraud scheme by submitting fake applications for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to a third-party administrator located in Maryland. The duo used stolen personal identification information (PII) of 57 individuals, pretending they were employees of a fictional company. These applications were sent using interstate wire communications and the U.S. postal system. The third-party administrator approved the creation of HSA accounts, which were credited with funds that could be spent using debit cards.
Spending Fraudulent Funds
Evans and his co-conspirators spent the funds from these accounts on gift cards, debit cards, and consumer goods. They used the debit cards in multiple stores in 2018, until the third-party administrator discovered that Evans’ fake company did not have any actual bank account to reimburse the fraudulent HSA funds.
Additional Crimes and Consequences
In addition to the fraudulent health care scheme, Evans was caught attempting to execute a similar fraud scheme in Florida in 2019. After violating court orders, Evans continued to submit fraudulent health care claims for HSA accounts. This led to him seeking $91,000 in funds from another third-party administrator. He used these proceeds to purchase a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban SUV worth $44,335.
Jackson’s Sentencing
Co-defendant Travious Quinshad Jackson, who was involved in the identity theft aspect of the scheme, was sentenced to two years in prison. He was also ordered to pay $302,099.34 in restitution to the victims.
Investigation and Prosecution
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with assistance from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Vicksburg Police Department, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff made the announcement following the sentencing.
