ADDITIONAL TENNCARE FRAUD ARREST IN HUMPHREYS COUNTY

TOTAL TENNCARE FRAUD ARRESTS: SIX OF 29 BOOKED IN DRUG ROUNDUP

NASHVILLE - An additional arrest in a sweeping Humphreys County drug round up brings to six the number of people charged with TennCare fraud and 29 in total arrested for drug charges.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced that five people were arrested on indictments charging them with selling prescription medications paid for by TennCare to an undercover informant working for the Waverly Police Department. A total 28 people are charged in the round up.

Governor Phil Bredesen created the Office of Inspector General, one of the first units of its kind in the nation, in 2004. Since it became operational in February 2005, 217 people have been charged with TennCare fraud, leading to 56 convictions for TennCare fraud.

Christy G. Comeaux, 29, is the latest arrest in the Humphreys County roundup. She was indicted for allegedly selling prescription medication paid for by TennCare to an undercover informant.

The five people charged are:

• Justin B. Hurt, 43, who faces two counts of TennCare fraud involving the powerful painkiller hydrocodone;
• William F. Schiller, Jr., 38, charged with two counts of TennCare fraud;
• Donna J. Kilburn, 46, charged with two counts of TennCare fraud;
• Margaret McCrary, 44, one count of TennCare fraud for selling hydrocodone paid for by TennCare and one count of obtaining drugs by fraud;
• Billy W. French, 33, who faces four counts of TennCare fraud for selling hydrocodone paid for by TennCare and one count of obtaining drugs by fraud.

“The Waverly Police Department laid the groundwork for these cases and asked for assistance in bringing forth TennCare fraud charges, and that’s the kind of cooperation we’re building with law enforcement officers throughout the state,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. “Drug diversion – or selling prescription medications on the street – is a problem local police are combating and we’re committed to eliminating the problem of taxpayer money financing these drug deals.”

Faulkner gave special thanks to Waverly Police Chief David Daniel, Capt. Larry Lescure, and Detective Tony Ahne along with Waverly narcotics officers for their work in the cases, as well as Assistant District Attorney Lisa Donegan who presented the cases to a Grand Jury. Donegan and District Attorney Dan M. Alsobrooks will prosecute the cases. If convicted, the five could face one to six years in prison and fines of up to $5,000 for each of the charges, which are felonies.

If convicted Comeaux could be sentenced up to 4 years in prison and fined up to $5,000.00

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.”