NASHVILLE, TN – Two people in Giles County are charged in separate cases with TennCare fraud involving selling prescription drugs paid for by the state’s Medicaid healthcare insurance program.

 The Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced the arrest of Christina J. Marks, 24, of Goodspring and Melanie B. Reach, 43, of Pulaski after a joint investigation with the Giles County Sheriff’s Office and the Pulaski Police Department. 

Reach is charged with TennCare fraud for using TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Hydrocodone, then selling and delivering a portion of the prescription, a Schedule III controlled substance. 

Marks is charged with two counts of TennCare fraud in charges that accuse her of using TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Lortab, a Schedule III controlled substance, and then on both occasions, selling a portion of the drugs. 

“We mean to eliminate the drug resale activity in the TennCare program,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said.  “Selling prescription drugs to other people is illegal, and intolerable when public dollars are involved.” 

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Mike Bottoms is prosecuting. 

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $173 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures.  To date, over 1,900 people have been charged with TennCare fraud. 

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”

 NASHVILLE- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation today made an arrest in a 2011 Mt. Juliet kidnapping case of a teenage girl. 

Jeremy Wayne Darnell, 33, of Lebanon, Tenn. was arrested today and charged with one count of especially aggravated kidnapping. On August 5, 2011, Darnell forced a 14-year-old girl into the passenger side seat of his truck in the Providence Marketplace parking lot. After a struggle in Darnell’s vehicle, the victim escaped, ran to safety and contacted police. Yesterday, TBI received information identifying Darnell as the abductor. The eyewitnesses have positively identified him as responsible for the incident. At the time of the abduction, law enforcement believed that the Providence Marketplace incident was linked to an attempted kidnapping of another teenage girl at the Walmart in Clarksville in July 2011. In light of new information, it is not believed the two incidents are related. 

Darnell was booked into the Wilson County Jail this afternoon.

NASHVILLE, TN – Three people in Rutherford County are charged with TennCare fraud for using the state’s healthcare insurance program to pay for fraudulent prescriptions.

 The Office of Inspector General (OIG) with the assistance of Smyrna Police today announced the arrests: 

• David A. Cousino, 19, of Murfreesboro, charged with TennCare fraud in connection with presenting a forged prescription for 90 tablets of the painkiller Hydrocodone, using TennCare to pay for the forged prescription.
• Violet A. Hennings, 31, of Murfreesboro, charged with six counts of TennCare fraud for six times presenting a forged prescription for 90 tablets of Hydrocodone, which was paid for by TennCare.
• Heather Thomas, 20, of LaVergne, charged with TennCare fraud for presenting a forged prescription for 90 Hydrocodone tablets, with the drugs paid for by TennCare. 

“Medical providers, local law enforcement officials, and state agencies will not tolerate this kind of blatant abuse of TennCare, especially when it relates to addictive prescription painkillers,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. 

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General William C. Whitesell, Jr. is prosecuting. 

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $173 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures.  To date, over 1,900 people have been charged with TennCare fraud. 

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”

Sheriff Norman Dalton would like the citizens of Marshall County to beware of a scam taking place in the Marshall County area. The caller will advise you that they are from the Publishers Clearing House and that you have won a Mercedes or X amount of money and the money has been sent to the Bank of America and the Tennessee Highway Patrol will be delivering the vehicle. The caller will then advises you that you need to go to Walmart and purchase a Green Dot Money Pak in the amount of $XXX.00 to cover the taxes on the winnings. The caller will give you a check number and document number to pick up your check at the Bank of America. Once you purchase the Green Dot Money Pak they will ask you to read to them the number on the Money Pak. Next, they will tell you there has been a mistake and you need to go purchase a Gold Dot Money Pak in the same amount. This is definitely a scam. These calls are being made from a number from Jamaica. Once you read the caller the number off of the Money Paks, the amount on the Money Pak is in their hands. Do not fall for this; beware!

$50,000 contribution to sustain essential programs to train and place workers in Southern Middle Tennessee 

Lewisburg, Tennessee, Oct. 9, 2013 — Today, AT&T* announced a  $50,000 contribution to the South Central Tennessee Workforce Board (SCTWB) to sustain essential programs to provide for improvements in workforce skills through training, development, education and job creation based on employer demands, and resulting in productive citizens who can learn, work, and comfortably care for their families. 

The SCTWB serves under the leadership of the South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance, and represents private, public, and community based partners from the eight counties of Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Perry and Wayne counties in southern middle Tennessee. 

“This contribution will be used to support the ongoing work of our Jobs for Tennessee Graduates program through the local career centers and high schools.  This initiative enhances workforce development, which supports employers and job seekers across our eight county region,” said Jan McKeel, Executive Director of SCTWB.  

“Providing technical training for citizens across the Southern Middle Tennessee is vitally important to preserving our communities and the way of life we all love,” said Senator Jim Tracy. 

The South Central Tennessee Workforce Board’s training programs align with AT&T’s Aspire initiative – one of the nation’s largest corporate commitments focused on college and career readiness –and is a reflection of AT&T’s continued efforts to improve local communities. 

AT&T is in midst of a major infrastructure investment initiative called Project Velocity IP to significantly enhance and expand its wired and wireless networks in Tennessee and across the country.  As of June of this year, AT&T has invested over $175 million in Tennessee which builds on top of nearly $1.4 billion dollars invested in Tennessee between 2010 and 2012 to meet growing consumer and business demand for wireless and broadband services.  Earlier this year, AT&T announced it is hiring for 200 positions across Tennessee to support Project VIP and to serve its customers.