MAURY COUNTY MAN ACCUSED OF TENNCARE FRAUDS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Maury County Sheriff’s Department and the Office of TennCare Inspector General (OIG) today announced the indictment, arrest and arraignment of a Maury County man for TennCare fraud. Maury County District Attorney General Mike Bottoms is prosecuting.

Nicholas Allen Walters, already in custody at West Tennessee State Prison on unrelated convictions, was served today with an indictment charging him with one count each of TennCare fraud, identity theft, and theft of services.

The charges stem from an incident in July of 2004 in which Walters allegedly used another person's social security number with the intent to commit a crime. According to the indictment, Walters used the number to obtain services from various hospitals and pharmacies, paid for through TennCare, to which Walters was not entitled.

“We want to send a strong message across Tennessee and beyond that Governor Bredesen has set forth a zero tolerance policy for TennCare fraud and abuse – and we intend to aggressively enforce it,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. “We intend to help the governor preserve TennCare for people who are truly eligible.”

After being served with the indictment, Walters was arraigned in Maury Circuit Court and trial was set for September 26, 2005. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 12 years each on two of the charges, and six years on the charge of TennCare fraud.

TennCare is the state’s health insurance program for 1.3 million poor, disabled or uninsured Tennesseans.