Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrests of Alexander McKinnie and Kara Morrison in connection with an alleged plot to defraud Florida’s Medicaid program by false reimbursement claims.
“Medicaid fraud is a clear example of theft from taxpayers,” says Uthmeier. “In Florida, our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will safeguard public funds and aggressively pursue anyone who exploits these programs.”
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According to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, McKinnie filed tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent claims for non-emergency medical transportation gas reimbursements for trips that never happened. According to authorities, McKinnie billed Medicaid for almost $65,000 in medical treatments that were never given.
Investigators also discovered that Morrison helped McKinnie with the fraud by submitting nearly $7,000 in fake reimbursement claims.
McKinnie is charged with Medicaid provider fraud exceeding $50,000 and organized scheme to defraud. Both offenses are first-degree felonies punishable by up to 30 years in the Florida Department of Corrections and $10,000 in fines.
Morrison is charged with one count of Medicaid provider fraud for less than $10,000 and one count of organized scheme to defraud. Both accusations are third-degree felonies, punishable by up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office apprehended McKinnie, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detained Morrison.
The State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit will prosecute the cases.
