Nine Healthcare Workers Indicted in $1.2M Medicaid Fraud Scheme

Nine Medicaid providers across Ohio face felony fraud charges after allegedly stealing $1.2 million from the state healthcare program by billing for services they never provided, Attorney General Dave Yost announced Thursday.

The defendants include eight home-health aides and one mental-health specialist who worked for various healthcare companies throughout the state. Two defendants alone account for more than $1 million of the alleged fraud, according to indictments filed this week in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within Yost’s office investigated the cases and secured the indictments. The unit works with federal, state and local partners to investigate healthcare fraud and protect vulnerable adults.

Major Cases

James Ferguson of Cleveland faces the largest individual fraud allegation, accused of stealing $724,966 by consistently billing for 16 hours of daily services for each of six clients. Investigators determined Ferguson never provided 16 hours of services in a single day to any client, and two clients reported receiving no services after an initial visit.

Desiree Reid of Maple Heights allegedly billed for an average of 20 hours of daily services while providing care to a relative between January 2019 and March 2025. Surveillance footage over 18 days showed Reid approaching the residence only twice and never entering. Flight records revealed she billed for 93 days while traveling in Florida, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and the Dominican Republic. The alleged loss totaled $366,950.

Dalana Thompson of Cleveland allegedly billed for two shifts when working only one while serving five clients, causing a $143,731 loss. She confessed to submitting fraudulent claims when confronted by investigators.

Hospital Billing Schemes

Several defendants allegedly billed for services while recipients were hospitalized. Shena Ellis-Wilson of Warrensville Heights billed Medicaid more than a dozen times after stopping services to a client, telling investigators she falsified claims to reimburse herself for unpaid work.

Lisa Forbes of Columbus allegedly billed for services on seven occasions when recipients were hospitalized, admitting to investigators she knew the practice was illegal. Kenya Nevins of Dayton allegedly billed for services on 21 days when recipients were hospitalized.

Other Cases

Erica Buford of Dayton allegedly billed for services when recipients were hospitalized and admitted to submitting fraudulent claims. Achana Brown of Maple Heights allegedly billed for services when recipients were hospitalized or incarcerated. Jazmine Reddick of Cleveland allegedly falsified time sheets, estimating 80% of her billed services were never provided.

All defendants face varying felony charges of Medicaid fraud and theft. The indictments are criminal allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the remaining 25% funded by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.