Department of Finance & Administration
Mark Emkes, Commissioner

FOUR WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS CHARGED WITH TENNCARE FRAUD

NASHVILLE– TennCare fraud charges are lodged against four people in Warren County, after an undercover investigation of people selling prescription drugs that had been paid for with TennCare public healthcare insurance benefits.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), along with McMinnville and Warren County officers today announced the arrests:

• Robin Chiffon Guzman Johnson, 30, of McMinnville, charged with one count of TennCare fraud and one count of delivery of a controlled substance.  She’s accused of using TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Hydrocodone, later selling a portion of the drugs to an undercover agent.
• Sherry Lynn Clark, 39, of McMinnville, charged with one count of TennCare fraud and one count of delivery of a controlled substance.  She’s accused of selling the pain medication Hydrocodone to an undercover agent, after using TennCare to pay for the drugs.
• Andrea Denea Reeves Meeks, 35, of Morrison, charged with one count of TennCare fraud and one count of delivery of a controlled substance.  Meeks is accused of using TennCare to obtain the painkiller Oxycodone, later selling a portion of the drugs to an undercover agent.
• Becky Renee Prater, 42, of McMinnville, charged with two counts of TennCare fraud and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance.  On two separate occasions, Prater allegedly sold a portion of a prescription for the painkiller Oxycodone to an undercover agent, after obtaining it with TennCare benefits.

“Prescription drug fraud is a problem that touches all of our communities, but we’ve made it tougher for people to get by with it by using TennCare,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said.

District Attorney General Lisa S. Zavogiannis will prosecute.  If convicted, all four could serve up to two years for the TennCare fraud charge, a Class E felony and up to four years for delivery of a controlled substance, a Class D felony.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $173 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures.  To date, nearly 1,500 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."