Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Blog

3 charged with insurance fraud in national investigation

Published on: July 21, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Georgia residents and others around the nation go to healthcare providers for medical needs. In many cases, the process is standard: services are provided to a patient, paperwork is filed by the facility, then providers receive payment from insurance companies for the services. However, insurance fraud can occur when claims are filed for ineligible services or for those not actually provided. Three medical personnel from Georgia were among a large number of people recently accused of health care fraud.

According to the country’s Department of Health and Human Services, 412 people were charged with fraud in a federal investigation. Officials state that approximately $1.3 billion in fraudulent billing was allegedly discovered. In Georgia, almost $1.5 million in fraudulent claims were filed.

The indictment states that the owner and operator of the Georgia Center for Health, Wellness and Recover, a licensed psychologist in DeKalb County, submitted the claims to Medicaid. Reportedly, another worker at the clinic was also accused of similar charges. The facility provides mental health and substance rehab services. Another person from South Georgia was apparently involved in the case. However, no details were available about them.

Man, woman face drug charges following search

Published on: July 6, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Being arrested for possession of drugs in Georgia is a serious matter. If convicted, the consequences could range from monetary fines to extensive time in jail. A man and a woman face drug charges following a recent search at a Walker County house, according to police reports.

Agents from Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force report that a warrant had been obtained to search a house on Burnt Mill Lane. Following the search, officers allegedly found three 1-ounce bags of cocaine and two crack-cocaine cookies. In addition, a substantial amount of marijuana and 18 Oxycodone pills were supposedly found.

On the day the warrant was served at the house, a 28-year-old man was arrested by the task force. Five days after the search, a 37-year-old woman was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. She was also charged with possession of marijuana and trafficking cocaine.

2 arrested for drug charges in Valdosta

Published on: June 23, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Businesses in Georgia have packages delivered frequently. A variety of items necessary to the operation of the business are shipped with no incident. However, according to reports, a Valdosta business recently received packages that led to several drug charges for two people.

The Valdosta Police Narcotics Unit received information about two supposedly suspicious packages that had been delivered earlier to a business. Five packages were inspected by the Unit at the business. The Valdosta Police Drug Detection K-9 worked with the Narcotics Unit and their dog reportedly alerted on the packages.

A 27-year-old woman was held at the business when she came to collect the packages, according to reports. A 28-year-old man was also detained when he came to meet the woman. After the boxes were opened, police reportedly discovered over 9 pounds of marijuana. The estimated street value of the marijuana was over $72,000.

White collar crimes: 3 facing charges of fraud and bribery

Published on: June 8, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office recently arrested three people on charges of fraud and bribery. These alleged white collar crimes were apparently discovered after the county’s tax commissioner found discrepancies in his office’s records. An investigation among several agencies lasted several days after the sheriff’s office was notified.

The Gordon County Sheriff reported that on May 26, a 26-year-old Atlanta man was arrested and taken to jail. The man allegedly attempted to get vehicle registration documentation from the county Tax Office that police suspected to be fraudulent. Apparently, a 35-year-old man from Marietta was arrested later that same day for similar charges. The men face charges of bribery of a public official, computer document fraud and false statements registering motor vehicles.

According to reports, on June 1, a 40-year-old woman was booked on computer forgery and bribery charges after turning herself in to the Sheriff’s Office. The woman was released on her own recognizance after appearing in court. The investigation continues as other individuals and jurisdictions are examined. Officials claim that an additional arrest is forthcoming, but no county employees are suspected of any misconduct.

Drug charges filed against top physician addiction specialist

Published on: May 26, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

A call to police regarding a domestic disturbance has landed a Georgia physician in deep trouble for other matters, according to media reports and records of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. The man’s arrest on apparent drug charges occurred when responding police found him allegedly in possession of 81 Oxycodone pills, per the sheriff’s office. The arrest raises concerns because the doctor has been working as a prominent drug abuse specialist for many years in the Atlanta area.

Those concerns are heightened by the fact that, in 1990, the Georgia Medical Board had placed his license on probation for seven years on charges that he diverted painkillers to his own use through prescriptions written to family members. In addition, he is currently the director of Talbott Recovery, a prominent drug abuse treatment facility. The CEO of the facility announced that the doctor had been placed on administrative leave after the arrest.

To add to the ironical nature of the allegations, the accused is a board-certified addiction specialist who has been practicing for 31 years. The specific drug charges are unclear from the media reports, but Oxycodone violations are generally going to be classified as felonies. That fact exposes the accused to not only losing his license but also to a potential prison sentence. Defense counsel will first look to the circumstances surrounding the arrest and will also determine whether the accused had legal possession of the pills.

Georgia student focused on criminal defense for social media post

Published on: May 11, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Something viewed as a humorous prank by one person could be perceived in a much different light by another. Every action taken, regardless of someone’s age, can potentially bring life-changing consequences. A college scholarship student in Georgia is likely preparing a criminal defense due to his actions involving a photo he allegedly snapped and posted on social media.

In Nov. 2016, a cadet at the University of North Georgia in his junior year went to a restroom in the Military Leadership Center in Dahlonega. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the cadet apparently saw one of his instructors at a urinal with his shorts pulled down. The cadet allegedly took a photo with his phone and sent it to some of his friends. Following that, the photo was purportedly shared on a messaging app and was seen by hundreds of viewers.

News of the photo reached university officials, and the cadet was asked to show it to his superiors. He now faces up to six years in prison regarding a felony charge of unlawful eavesdropping or surveillance and a misdemeanor charge of transmission of photography depicting nudity. Reports say that he could also be fined $51,000 for the incident. In addition, the student may lose his scholarship, which included funding for his room, meals, books and tuition.

Georgia police accuse teenager of rape

Published on: April 27, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Police have an obligation to investigate all accusations. However, when accusations involve claims of sexual assault, it may not always be easy for authorities to gain sufficient evidence to gain a conviction. Although details of an alleged incident between two students at a private school are unclear, police have recently arrested a private school student in Georgia and charged him with rape.

According to reports, the alleged victim sought treatment at a hospital. Hospital staff then contacted police. Police say that an investigation — including interviews with the victim as well as other parties — led them to believe that there is probable cause to make an arrest and file charges.

The accuser and the defendant reportedly attend the same private school. Police say that they do not believe that the reported attack was random but that both parties knew each other. They also claim that they do not believe that there are other victims. The 18-year-old defendant, currently in jail, is charged with statutory rape and rape.

Georgia agent arrested for insurance fraud

Published on: April 14, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Georgia residents regularly deal with insurance agents to obtain coverage for homes, vehicles and other valuable assets. Transactions are routinely conducted with an expectation that an agent is properly submitting premiums payments made by a client to an agency. A McIntosh County agent was recently arrested for insurance fraud for allegedly keeping money intended for insurance companies.

A report from the Insurance Commission’s Fraud Unit claims that a 35-year-old man was personally using funds his clients had remitted to pay for their car insurance. Since the money was apparently never applied to the clients’ insurance premiums, none of them were properly insured. Had an accident occurred, the clients could have experienced potential financial hardships.

The agent was arrested at his insurance office, where he also resides. The man also received an administrative order from the Commissioner that immediately revoked his agent’s license. Fraud investigators from the Insurance Department will be addressing concerns from the agent’s existing clients. The man can request a hearing regarding his license within 10 days following receipt of the order. Both administrative and criminal investigations regarding the case continue, according to the Insurance Commissioner.

Teacher and others face drug charges after bust

Published on: March 30, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Any accusation involving drugs could lead to serious consequences. Penalties for a conviction of drug charges in Georgia may range from fines to time in jail. A recent arrest in Hall County has resulted in numerous charges for three people.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office reports that a 28-year woman and a 24-year-old woman have been arrested regarding drug charges. The women were arrested at a house where several weapons and drugs were reportedly found. The 25-year-old brother of the younger woman is also being sought by police.

Police reportedly found 1 kilogram of heroin as well as 61 kilograms of cocaine in their search. Supposedly, the value of the drugs was estimated at $6.2 million. Two semi-automatic assault rifles were said to have been discovered at the home as well.

Judge allows pair charged with tax fraud to continue filing taxes

Published on: March 16, 2017 | By Conaway & Strickler, P.C.

Many taxpayers in Georgia and throughout the country are charged with fraud each year. When the person charged with tax fraud is a tax preparer, the situation becomes even more complicated. A judge in Fulton County recently allowed someone whose tax filings are under investigation to continue her tax preparation business.

A Hapeville councilwoman and her daughter are being investigated for alleged tax fraud by the Georgia Department of Revenue. Officials claim that the pair were being scrutinized after a local television station had questioned thousands of returns they had filed. There was speculation that the amount of the returns their clients had received were inflated.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, the tax preparers had been prevented from filing additional returns by an injunction from the state. Investigators claim that filings made by the pair have cost the state of Georgia millions of dollars. Any returns already filed by clients of the tax preparers will be reviewed by the state’s Department of Revenue. Officials contend that if filings continue, more problems will occur.