Kansas Attorney General Morrison Praises Tough Sentence In Medicaid Fraud Case

August 10, 2007 -- Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison announced today that Peggy and Johnnie Franklin-El were sentenced to 92 months in prison for making false claims to Medicaid. The Franklin-Els were also ordered to pay total losses of $1.24 million in restitution to Medicaid.

"We're happy with the outcome in this case and proud of the coordinated effort to crack down on those who scam the Medicaid system," Morrison said. "This sentence sends a message that individuals who abuse the Medicaid system and steal money face the tough penalties they deserve."

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Peggy Franklin-El, 49, Wichita, Kan., was convicted on 69 counts including conspiracy to defraud Medicaid, health care fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice.

Johnnie Franklin-El, 52, Wichita, Kan., was convicted on 22 counts including conspiracy, health care fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice.

The Attorney General’s Office investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Loren Snell of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Treadway prosecuted.

“Our investigators and attorneys worked very hard building a strong case against two individuals who were defrauding the Medicaid program,” Attorney General Paul Morrison said. “Through a joint effort between the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, justice has been served.”

The couple operated a drug and alcohol counseling center in Wichita. They were found to have made the $1.24 million worth of false claims to Medicaid for community based drug and alcohol treatment that was not provided.

Source: Kansas Attorney General