Attorney General Andy Beshear and his Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse announced the indictments of three individuals for defrauding the state Medicaid program.
In Fayette Circuit Court on Wednesday Dec. 13, three women were charged in two separate indictments on 44 felony counts following alleged theft from the Kentucky Medical Assistance Program, and an individual who was receiving Social Security benefits.
“We take our role as a fraud watchdog very seriously,” said Beshear. “We are dedicated to protecting the integrity of the programs that provide vital aid and services to so many of our Kentucky families in need.”
Illya Adams-Jones, 50 and Jonnie Adams-Jones, 44, both of Lexington were charged in a single indictment, and are alleged to have taken approximately $15,000 from Kentucky’s Medicaid program. Illya was also accused of abusing her position as a representative payee for a Social Security beneficiary, by using more than $8,900 of Social Security funds as her own.
In the indictment, Illya Adams-Jones was charged with four counts of Medicaid fraud, Class D felonies; four counts of theft by unlawful taking over $500, Class D felonies; one count of theft by failure to make a require disposition of property, a Class D felony; and one count of knowingly exploiting an adult, a Class C felony.
Jonnie Adams-Jones was charged with four counts of Medicaid fraud, Class D felonies and four counts of theft by unlawful taking over $500, Class D felonies.
It is alleged that over certain periods in 2014 and 2015, the pair submitted fraudulent documents and timesheets to the Kentucky Medicaid program to obtain payment for services that were not provided.
Taslima Abdullah, 60, of Winchester, was indicted separately on two counts of Medicaid Fraud, Class D felonies; one count of theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $10,000 or more, a Class C felony; one count of theft by unlawful taking over $500, a Class D felony; 21 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, Class D felonies, and persistent felony offender in the second degree.
It is alleged that in 2013 through 2015, Abdullah submitted fraudulent documents and timesheets to the Kentucky Medicaid program to obtain payment from the program for services that were not rendered. Abdullah was living in Lexington when she was alleged to have taken more than $12,000 from the state Medicaid program.
Arraignment for all three individuals will be scheduled in Fayette Circuit Court upon arrest.
The Attorney General’s Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse investigated the cases, with vital assistance from the Cabinet for Health and Family Service’s Department of Aging and Independent Living and the Office of the Inspector General, and Bluegrass Area Development District in Lexington, Kentucky.
A charge is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Since taking office, efforts by Beshear’s team through civil settlements and criminal restitution resulted in $36 million in obligations to the state and federal Medicaid program, Medicare, Tricare, commercial payers and other entities.
The Attorney General’s tip line for reporting allegations of Medicaid provider fraud is 502-696-5405.
(provided by the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General)
