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Florida Doctor and Wife Swindled $2.3M in Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Funds
A former doctor and her wife have pleaded guilty to crimes involving the medical practice they ran in north Alabama for years. Francene Aretha Gayle, 50, of Apopka, Florida, and her wife, Schara Monique Davis, 48, also of Apopka, pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
Gayle admitted to unlawfully distributing drugs, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone, between 2014 and early 2020. The former doctor operated a multi-clinic practice in Huntsville, Athens, and Killen, while Davis owned the practice and served as business manager.
The duo conspired to commit health care fraud by billing insurers for office visits under Gayle’s name, even when she wasn’t present. This scheme continued for four years after Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama audited the practice and discovered the issue in 2015. The practice made over $2.3 million in false claims between 2015 and 2020, paid by Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross.
Gayle and Davis also admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud. After their medical practice was shut down in March 2020 due to concerns over their prescribing and billing practices, they applied for and obtained $450,000 in COVID-19 disaster relief funds under false pretenses. The funds were designed to support businesses struggling due to the pandemic, but the couple used them for personal expenses.
The FBI, DEA, and HHS-OIG investigated the case, with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office providing assistance. The maximum penalty for unlawful drug distribution is 20 years in prison, while the maximum penalty for health care fraud conspiracy is 10 years. The maximum penalty for wire fraud conspiracy is also 20 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys J.B. Ward and Ryan Rummage are prosecuting the case. The defendants face significant prison time and fines for their crimes, which have shaken the trust of the public and the medical community in north Alabama.
The Alabama Medical Licensure Commission revoked Gayle’s license in March 2020, and all three clinics closed shortly after. The practice’s closure and subsequent investigations have brought to light the severity of the couple’s crimes and the need for stricter oversight in the medical industry.
As the investigation continues, the community is left to wonder how such a large-scale scheme could go undetected for so long. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in the healthcare system.
The guilty pleas mark a significant step towards justice for the victims of the couple’s crimes. However, the full extent of the damage remains to be seen, and the community may face a long road to recovery.
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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