Michelle Shropshire and Harlisha Jones, both former train operators for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to charges related to a health care fraud scheme. The two admitted to conspiring to obtain fraudulent health care and disability payments totaling nearly $60,000, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Sentencing is scheduled for June 11, 2026, for Shropshire and June 15, 2026, for Jones. The sentences will be determined after consideration of federal guidelines and statutory factors.
According to court documents, between June 2021 and January 2024, Shropshire and Jones submitted false claims using Jones’s insurance policies with American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (AFLAC). They fabricated injuries and medical treatments that did not occur. The pair also used information from real doctors to create fake medical notes and forged signatures on physician statements that were then sent to AFLAC as part of their claims.
Once AFLAC paid out the fraudulent claims—totaling approximately $58,750—Jones paid a kickback of about 20% of the amount received back to Shropshire.
Shropshire further admitted she led a larger operation involving several other WMATA employees who also submitted false claims through AFLAC with her assistance. This broader scheme resulted in at least $362,035 in improper insurance benefits being paid out to Shropshire, Jones, and other WMATA staff members. Five additional former WMATA employees have previously pleaded guilty in connection with the same scheme; all are awaiting sentencing.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the WMATA Office of Inspector General. "These cases are being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the WMATA Office of Inspector General. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Kelly and Diane Lucas." The announcement was made jointly with Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office and Inspector General Michelle Zamarin of the WMATA Office of Inspector General.
