Prison Time For Medicaid Fraud

Labeatris Estes, 31, of Louisville, is going to prison for Medicaid Fraud, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.

Estes pleaded guilty today to two counts of Medicaid Fraud before Rankin County Circuit Court Judge William E. Chapman, III. As a result, Estes was sentenced to five years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with one year to serve, four years suspended and five years of supervised probation on each count to run concurrently.  Estes was also ordered to pay $10,920 in restitution, $32,760 for damages, $1,431.50 in court costs and $500 to the Victims Compensation Fund.

The Attorney General’s investigation showed that Estes claimed to be providing services to a Medicaid beneficiary; however, those services were not provided. She submitted more than $10,000 in claims for home and community services to Southern Healthcare for work never performed.  As a result, claims were submitted to Medicaid for payment.

“This sentence should send a message to others who may be tempted to cheat the system. We do not tolerate this kind of criminal activity and those caught engaging in this illegal behavior will pay,” Attorney General Hood said. “We appreciate Judge Chapman’s sentence and his order to the defendant to pay back all restitution and damages.”

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorneys General Treasure Tyson and Katie Moulds with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.