SEQUATCHIE MAN CONVICTED OF TENNCARE FRAUD

NASHVILLE - A Sequatchie County man has pleaded guilty to TennCare fraud. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced that Corey Fugate, 19, of Dunlap enter the plea after he was arrested on September 28, 2005.

Fugate was indicted by the Sequatchie County Grand Jury for aiding and abetting a TennCare enrollee by permitting the enrollee to present a forged prescription for Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication, in Fugate's name at a local pharmacy with payment by TennCare.The enrollee, Tina Arnold of Sequatchie County, was also charged and is scheduled for a court appearance later this year.

Fugate was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to serve ten days followed by 18 months probation. He has also been ordered to pay a $250 fine, restitution to TennCare for the cost of the prescription and 110 hours of unpaid community service as well as voluntary withdrawal from the TennCare program.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney General Steve Strain.

We continue to investigate TennCare fraud tips that come to us from across Tennessee as we pursue confirmed cases and assist in prosecution of fraud cases," Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. "We encourage anyone with information regarding TennCare fraud to please call our hotlines - we follow-up intensely on each tip."

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".