Two Women Convicted of TennCare Fraud Must Repay Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Women in two separate cases have pleaded guilty to TennCare fraud charges, and together must repay the state’s healthcare insurance program more than $40,000.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the convictions of Jennifer Kaye Sumpter, 47, of Cookeville and Shaneka Blakely, 25, of West Memphis, Arkansas.

Sumpter pleaded guilty to TennCare fraud and theft of property over $10,000. She was granted Judicial Diversion for six years and given six years supervised probation and must pay restitution to TennCare in the amount of $21,325.00. She was arrested in June 2016 in Putnam County on charges of falsely reporting her income to the state in order to receive TennCare healthcare and prescription drug benefits. District Attorney General Bryant C. Dunaway prosecuted the case.

Blakely also pleaded guilty to TennCare fraud and theft of property over $10,000 and received six years’ probation in Shelby County. She must make restitution to TennCare in the amount of $20,326.51. Blakely was indicted in Shelby County for obtaining medical services through TennCare by intentionally misrepresenting that she and her family resided in Tennessee when they actually lived in West Memphis, Arkansas. District Attorney General Amy Weirich prosecuted this case.

“We will prosecute anyone we find who misrepresents their income, address or employment in order to gain TennCare benefits,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “Tennessee taxpayers have made it clear to us they want to see people prosecuted, when they are caught committing TennCare fraud.”

As of July 1, 2016, TennCare fraud was changed to a Class D felony punishable by up to four years in prison.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,758 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or visit the website and follow prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”