Department of Finance & Administration
Mark Emkes, Commissioner

THREE IN CARROLL COUNTY CHARGED WITH TENNCARE DRUG FRAUD

TRIO IN DRUG ROUND-UP OF 39 PEOPLE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - TennCare fraud charges are lodged against three people in Carroll County in connection with an undercover investigation of people illegally selling prescription drugs which had been paid for with TennCare benefits.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), along with the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the McKenzie Police Department and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office worked together as a total of 39 people were charged with selling prescription drugs. Three of them face additional charges of TennCare fraud.

“People who think they can commit TennCare fraud and get away with it are in for a surprise,” said Inspector General Deborah Faulkner.  “This activity will not be tolerated anywhere in Tennessee, especially when the result is that prescription drugs end up in the hands of people who purchased them from someone who used TennCare to get them.”

The 3 arrested and charged with TennCare fraud are:

• Jennifer M. Forrest, 20, of Jackson, charged with one count of TennCare fraud for selling Adderall, an anti-anxiety medication, to an undercover agent, after it was paid for by TennCare;
• Bethany A. Franklin, 27, of McKenzie, charged with one count of TennCare fraud for selling the painkiller Hydrocodone, which had been obtained with TennCare benefits;
• Nicole M. Berryhill, 40, of McKenzie, charged with one count of TennCare fraud for selling an undercover agent the drug Alprazolam, which is generic for the anti-anxiety medication Xanax, after it was obtained through a physician’s visit which was paid for by TennCare.

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison.  District Attorney General Hansel McCadams is prosecuting.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $2.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $171 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures.  To date, over 1,100 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig and follow the prompts that read "Report TennCare Fraud."