TIPTON COUNTY WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG FRAUD

PART OF PLEA AGREEMENT: REPAY TENNCARE

NASHVILLE – A Tipton County woman has pleaded guilty to prescription drug fraud and must repay TennCare for the drugs.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced that Jenifer Sonderman, 29 of Covington, pleaded guilty to criminal charges and the court ordered her to repay $1,363.77 to TennCare.

Sonderman was indicted inr July 2005 on multiple felony counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. The charges resulted from a TennCare fraud investigation that revealed Sonderman had been obtaining the painkiller hydrocodone by fraud and using her TennCare medical benefits to pay for the fraudulent prescriptions.

Sonderman also received two years judicial diversion, in addition to making restitution to TennCare. If she fails to complete the diversion, she could face jail time. She also agreed to voluntarily remove herself from TennCare. District Attorney Elizabeth Rice prosecuted the case.

“The OIG will continue to identify and prosecute people who defraud TennCare," Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “We’re putting people on notice that committing TennCare fraud may lead to losing TennCare coverage and working to pay TennCare back for the benefits that were taken.”

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.”