Eight People Charged with TennCare Fraud in Hamblen Co. Round-Up

Monday, April 27, 2015 | 12:00am

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eight people have been arrested and charged with TennCare fraud, after a round-up that involved 105 individuals being charged in connection with prescription drugs.  A total of 81 of them have been arrested.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) worked with the Morristown Police Department in an undercover investigation.  The eight charged with TennCare fraud include the following:

  • Kasey M. Brice, 26, of Morristown, charged with TennCare fraud and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance.  She’s accused of using TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Oxycodone and selling a portion of her prescription to a confidential informant.
  • Jennifer L. Cook, 34, of Morristown, charged with TennCare fraud and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance.  She’s accused of using TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Oxycodone and selling a portion of to a confidential informant.
  • Patrick H. Cook, 59, of Morristown, charged with TennCare fraud and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance.  Cook is accused of using TennCare benefits to pay for a prescription of the painkiller Oxycodone and later sold a portion of the drugs to a confidential informant.
  • Patricia Crawford, 50, of Morristown, charged with two counts of TennCare fraud, two counts of delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance and delivery of a Schedule IV controlled substance.  Crawford is accused of using TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Oxycodone and Carisoprodol, a muscle relaxer, later selling a portion of the drugs to a confidential informant.
  • Robin R. Hawley, 44, of Morristown, is charged with TennCare fraud and delivery of a Schedule III controlled substance.  She is accused of using TennCare to obtain Buprenorphine, a synthetic pain reliever used to treat opiate addiction, and selling a portion of the drugs to a confidential informant.
  • Cassandra B. Long, 31, of Morristown, charged with TennCare fraud and sale of a Schedule III controlled substance in connection with using TennCare to obtain Subutex, a drug used to treat opiate addiction, selling a portion of the drug to a confidential informant.
  • Donald R. Stepp, Jr., 40, of Morristown, charged with TennCare fraud and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance.  He is accused of obtaining Oxycontin through TennCare and selling a portion of the pills.  
  • Samantha N. Weeks, 29, of White Pine, charged with two counts of TennCare fraud and three counts of delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance.  She is accused of using TennCare to obtain the painkillers Oxycodone and Oxymorphone and then selling a portion of the drugs.

“Morristown Police officers were key to building these cases and helping us make these arrests,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said.  “We depend upon local officers to help us go after those who commit TennCare fraud.”

TennCare fraud, delivery of a Schedule IV and Schedule III controlled substances are each Class E felonies, carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge. Delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance is a Class C felony, carrying a sentence of up to six years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Dan E. Armstrong is prosecuting.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,354 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 Office of Inspector General and follow the prompts that read "Report TennCare Fraud."