Yolanda Rice, 23, of Belleville, IL, was indicted on Oct. 23, 2013, on charges of Health Care Fraud and Obtaining Controlled Substances by Fraud, in a three-count Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in East St. Louis, IL, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Count 1 of the indictment alleged that between May of 2011 and September of 2012, Rice defrauded Medicaid by authorizing, through her employer, false prescriptions for controlled substances for Medicaid beneficiaries and then diverting the controlled substances for her own use. Counts 2 and 3 allege that on Nov. 30, 2011, and on Dec. 31, 2011, Rice fraudulently obtained Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, by fraud, misrepresentation and deception.
With respect to Count 1, Rice faces up to 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release. For Counts 2 and 3, Rice faces up to 4 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years supervised release. A $100 Special Assessment is assessed for each count.
An Indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Fairview Heights Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Illinois State Police.
The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ranley R. Killian.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
