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TRICARE Fraud Lands Arkansas Doctor 102 Months in Prison
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas doctor Joe David May, 42, of Alexander, has been sentenced to 102 months in federal prison for his role in a $12 million scheme to defraud TRICARE, the health insurer for our nation’s military. May, also known as Jay May, was convicted on all 22 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, violating the anti-kickback statute, lying to the FBI, falsifying records, and aggravated identity theft.
At the center of the scheme, recruiters found military personnel and veterans with TRICARE and filled out prescriptions for compounded drugs in their names. The prescriptions were then routed to medical professionals, like May, to be rubber stamped without consulting the ‘patient’ or any regard for whether drugs were needed. TRICARE paid over $12 million for prescriptions generated in this scheme.
In exchange for thousands in cash kickbacks, May rubber stamped 226 prescriptions for which TRICARE paid over $4.63 million. All but one of his prescriptions were for ‘patients’ May did not know, never treated, and knew nothing about.
Following the execution of search warrants at compounding pharmacies around the country, May visited the FBI to answer questions about his prescriptions. May lied by claiming he only signed prescriptions for people he evaluated and denying he received kickbacks. Obstruction continued when May got a subpoena for prescriptions and related ‘patient’ records. May turned over but a fraction of the prescriptions he signed and fabricated medical records to make it seem like the drug recipients were really his patients.
May’s co-conspirators, including Derek Clifton, Albert Glenn Hudson, Donna Crowder, Jennifer Crowder, Keith Benson, Kenneth Myers, Jr., and Keith Hunter, pled guilty to conspiracy and elected to cooperate with federal law enforcement. Several of May’s co-conspirators testified at trial, with all but one having been sentenced.
Through the prosecution of May and his nine co-conspirators, the United States has recovered nearly $8 million in restitution, forfeiture, and fines. ‘Our healthcare system is built on trust, and those who abuse it do so at their peril,’ said Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. ‘Dr. May accepted kickbacks, cheated TRICARE, and tried to deceive federal agents investigating his crimes. Now, he will face the consequences of his actions.’
May was ordered to pay over $4.63 million in restitution to TRICARE. His co-conspirators received the following sentences: Derek Clifton, 51 months imprisonment and $1.1M forfeiture; Albert Glenn Hudson, 48 months imprisonment and $1.5M forfeiture; Donna Crowder, 12 months 1 day imprisonment and $18K fine; Jennifer Crowder, 12 months home confinement and $89K forfeiture; Keith Benson, 15 months imprisonment and $727K forfeiture; Kenneth Myers, Jr., 3 years probation and $68K forfeiture; and Keith Hunter, pending sentencing.
May’s 102-month prison sentence is a significant blow to those who seek to exploit the healthcare system for personal gain. As the United States Attorney noted, ‘those who abuse it do so at their peril.’
Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Category: Healthcare Fraud
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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