LAWRENCE, ROANE COUNTY RESIDENTS CHARGED WITH TENNCARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG FRAUD

NASHVILLE – Two women from Roane and Lawrence Counties have been charged with TennCare fraud.  

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced that Toni Franklin-Perdue, 33 of Lawrence County was charged with presenting a forged prescription drug to a pharmacy and paying for it with her TennCare benefits.  The drug involved was Klonopin, an addictive depressant and controlled substance.

In an unrelated case, Michelle Snow Grant, 36, of Roane County was charged with altering a prescription for Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication, and paying for it with TennCare.

“We’re pursuing prescription drug fraud of any kind involving TennCare,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “We are pursuing dozens of prescription cases across the state and plan to prosecute anyone and everyone we find to be abusing this system.”

Michael Bottoms, District Attorney for Lawrence County, will prosecute the Franklin-Perdue case.  If convicted she could face one to two years in prison. Scott McCluen, District Attorney for Roane County will be prosecute Grant, who could face one to two years in prison.

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.”