Brenda Hicks, Obstructing Justice, Georgia 2024

Macon Resident Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Justice in Federal Court

Brenda Hicks, 58, of Macon, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice before Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on June 5.

Hicks, the owner of Middle Georgia Family Rehab, LLC, an outpatient rehabilitation facility with locations in Byron and Macon, admitted to ordering two employees to illegally alter documents during a federal civil investigation into alleged improper healthcare billing by the business.

According to court documents, Middle Georgia Family Rehab was served with a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) requesting various patient records on Oct. 7, 2019. Hicks set up a meeting with two employees and instructed them to go into the system and pull any portions of the requested files, looking for hard copies of the records in MGFR’s storage unit if needed.

Many of the requested records were either blank or missing. Hicks explained that if the records were not there or had not been signed, the employees were supposed to create or sign the records. For example, if the records were missing progress notes, Hicks instructed the employees to make them up by copying and pasting the narrative language from other progress notes to fill in the missing information.

Hicks now admits that she conspired to corruptly alter patient records with the intent to impair the integrity of those records and their availability for use in a civil action.

Hicks faces a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. In addition, the plea agreement stipulates that Hicks will pay restitution to TRICARE, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicaid, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5.

“Anyone who attempts to alter or destroy documents requested as part of a federal investigation will face federal penalties for breaking the law,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “For the sake of justice and truth, it is imperative that the integrity of the investigation is maintained for the benefit of all parties.”