Shelby County Man Charged with TennCare Fraud
NASHVILLE, TN – A Shelby County man is charged with TennCare fraud. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Carlton King, 47, of Memphis.
King was indicted by a Shelby County Grand Jury and charged with TennCare fraud for fraudulently obtaining TennCare healthcare insurance benefits he was not entitled to receive.
“Any person who intentionally misrepresents their situation in order to appear to be eligible for TennCare is stealing from taxpayers, plain and simple,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. “People who engage in this activity will be caught and prosecuted, no matter how creative they are in their crime.”
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison. District Attorney General Amy P. Weirich is prosecuting.
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $173 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures. To date, over 1,800 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."