Related Federal Cases
- Tracey Hernandez, Tax Fraud, North Carolina 2021 · North Carolina
- Andre Whitehurst, Bank Fraud, North Carolina 2022 · North Carolina
- Camille M. Harris, Property Fraud Scheme, North Carolina, 2023 · North Carolina
- Tracey Hernandez, Tax Refund Scheme, North Carolina 2022 · North Carolina
- Efraim Steif and Uri Koenig, Medicaid Fraud, Syracuse NY, 2023 · New Hampshire
Charlotte Man Convicted of Medicaid Fraud Scheme
A federal jury in Charlotte has found Calvin Cantrell Estrich, 32, of Charlotte, guilty of conspiring to defraud Medicaid of at least $700,000, announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Estrich was convicted following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. of conspiring to defraud Medicaid, committing health care fraud, making false statements in connection with a health care program, stealing the identities of children and clinicians to commit the fraud, money laundering and making false statements to investigators.
According to the indictment, from October 2009 to November 2010, Estrich and his co-conspirator, Joye Strong, participated in a scheme to defraud Medicaid for medically unnecessary services.
U.S. Attorney Tompkins is joined in making today’s announcement by Attorney General Roy Cooper, who oversees the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division (MID).
“We will not allow the likes of Estrich to use Medicaid or any other taxpayer-funded health care program as their personal ATMs,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins in making today’s announcement of the guilty verdict.
“Ripping off Medicaid harms needy patients, wastes tax dollars and contributes to rising health care costs,” North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said. “This conviction sends a strong message that criminals who cheat Medicaid will pay, and it’s a great example of our ongoing partnership to stamp out health care fraud here in North Carolina.”
According to filed court documents and trial proceedings, Estrich’s company, Everyday’s Blessing, was approved by Medicaid to provide Intensive In-Home Community Intervention Services, which are mental and behavioral services designed to stabilize living arrangements for youth and children and prevent out-of-home therapeutic treatment.
Trial evidence showed that Estrich and Strong stole and misused the identities of a nurse practitioner and two therapists in order to complete the necessary paperwork for Medicaid to approve services for Medicaid recipients to receive these services.
According to evidence presented at trial, once Medicaid approved Everyday’s Blessing to provide services to these recipients based upon the fraudulent paperwork, Estrich and Strong sought and received payment from Medicaid for the fraudulent services.
Evidence presented at trial established that in many instances, the Medicaid recipients did not receive any services at all.
Defendant:
Calvin Cantrell Estrich
Criminal Charges:
Conspiring to defraud Medicaid, committing health care fraud, making false statements in connection with a health care program, stealing the identities of children and clinicians to commit the fraud, money laundering and making false statements to investigators.
City and State:
Charlotte, North Carolina
Date:
October 2009 to November 2010 (crime date)
Outcome:
Guilty verdict
Amount:
$700,000
$462,178 (Medicaid reimbursements)
$192,000 (Estrich’s share)
$24,000 (false services for J.R.)
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
