FOUR CLAY COUNTY RESIDENTS ARRESTED
FOR SELLING DRUGS PAID FOR BY TENNCARE

NASHVILLE – Four Clay County residents including a father and son are charged with TennCare fraud for obtaining with intent to sell prescription pain killers paid for by TennCare. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrests which were made Monday night after indictments were issued in Clay County.

Joseph E. Carmack, 35, and his father, 55-year-old Joe Carmack, along with Rhonda Box, 42 and 59-year-old Siddie Scott, all of Celina, were arrested for fraudulently obtaining TennCare prescription drugs. The indictments allege that Rhonda Box and the elder Carmack obtained the painkiller hydrocodone through TennCare, knowingly concealing the fact that they planned to unlawfully sell a portion of the medication. The OIG worked closely with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney Bill Gibson’s Office.

“The illegal trafficking of TennCare drugs is a problem across the state, and we simply will not tolerate it,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “Enrollees who participate in selling drugs paid for by TennCare – and those who buy them – should understand this is a serious crime that we intend to prosecute.”

The charges against all of the defendants are Class E felonies, punishable by up to two years in prison per count. Bond was set at $5,000 for each defendant. Clay County District Attorney Bill Gibson is prosecuting.

Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tennessee.gov/tenncare and follow the prompts that read “Report Fraud Now.”