Department of Finance & Administration
Mark Emkes, Commissioner

WARREN COUNTY ROUND-UP NETS TENNCARE DRUG FRAUD ARRESTS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Six people in Warren County are charged with TennCare drug fraud, after a round-up that includes over two dozen arrests. The arrests are the result of an undercover investigation involving the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Warren County Sheriff's Office and the McMinnville Police Department.

The TennCare fraud charges in Warren County all involve people trying to sell their prescription drugs paid for by TennCare to an undercover informant. Most of the charges involved selling the painkillers hydrocodone and oxycodone.

The six people charged with TennCare fraud:

• Curtis Turner, 37, of McMinnville, charged with one count of felony TennCare fraud, one count of delivery of a scheduled III controlled substance and one count of delivery of a schedule II controlled substance for selling the painkillers morphine and hydrocodone, which were paid for by TennCare and sold to an undercover agent.
• Brenda Skelton, 46, of McMinnville, is charged with one count of TennCare fraud for selling the painkiller hydrocodone, paid for by TennCare, to an undercover agent.
• Ceva Craven, 40, of McMinnville, charged with one count of TennCare fraud and one count of delivery of a schedule III controlled substance for selling the painkiller hydrocodone, paid for by TennCare, to an undercover agent.
• Bethany Stoner, 21, of Campaign, was charged with one count of TennCare fraud, one count of delivery of a schedule III drug and one count of delivery of a schedule II controlled substance, for selling the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone, paid for by TennCare, to an undercover agent.
• Connie Barnes, 41, of McMinnville, has been charged with TennCare fraud for a second time in less than a year. Barnes is charged with one count of TennCare fraud and two counts of delivery of a schedule II controlled substance for selling oxycodone, paid for by TennCare, to an undercover agent. In January, Barnes was arrested in another Warren County drug sting.
• April Hickey, 32, of McMinnville, has been charged with TennCare Fraud for a second time. Hickey is now charged with one count of TennCare fraud for selling the painkiller hydrocodone, paid for by TennCare, to an undercover agent. Hickey was arrested in a similar Warren County round-up in August 2008.

"Local law enforcement officials have been invaluable in our war against TennCare fraud," Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. "By pooling resources with local officials, we are covering much more ground and making more progress in tackling the drug fraud problem, especially when people try to use public dollars to finance it."

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $2.6 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $165 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures. To date, over 920 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."