Great Lakes Wire

Today, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed criminal charges against 324 defendants across the country as part of its National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The initiative involves 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices, including Michigan's, and targets schemes to defraud Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE. Attorney General Dana Nessel announced two cases from Michigan in connection with this campaign.

"Fraud affects everyone - the recipients of care, the taxpayers who pay for it, and the overwhelming majority of providers who conscientiously provide quality care," stated Nessel. "The answer to protecting these vital services is not to cut off access or to drastically slash funding that hundreds of thousands of Michiganders rely on but to root out fraud where it’s happening and hold bad actors accountable."

The nationwide operation focuses on health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes involving over $14.6 billion in alleged false billings and more than 15.6 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. Authorities seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets connected to these activities.

In Michigan, James Alexander Carthron from Saginaw faces charges for allegedly making false claims to Medicaid amounting to approximately $11,000 by billing for unprovided services. Similarly, Daleena Taree Miller from Battle Creek is charged with submitting a false claim totaling $8,640 by working fewer hours than reported and falsifying medical records.

Both cases are under the jurisdiction of the Department's Health Care Fraud Division (HCFD), which aims to identify and prosecute fraudulent activity among health care providers participating in Medicaid programs.

Additionally, HCFD operates the Sentinel Project that investigates long-term care facilities for abuse or neglect through unannounced visits.

Residents can report nursing facility abuse via an online complaint form or contact the Michigan Attorney General's Health Care Fraud Hotline at (800) 24-ABUSE (2-2873). The Michigan Health Care Fraud Division receives significant funding from both federal grants totaling $5,703,460 for fiscal year 2025 and state contributions amounting to $1,901,152.