Lakia Jackson, Medicaid Fraud, Wisconsin 2026

Lakia Jackson, 36, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for her role in a Medicaid fraud scheme that swindled $2,655,463.63 from a benefit meant to help at-risk pregnant women and women with young children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Jackson pleaded guilty on December 2, 2025, to one count of healthcare fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The charges stemmed from a 20-count indictment issued on October 16, 2024.

As part of her plea agreement, Jackson acknowledged that she engaged in a scheme to defraud Wisconsin Medicaid by offering kickbacks in exchange for Medicaid numbers and falsely billing the program as though she provided reimbursable services.

Jackson’s sentencing follows similar cases against Precious Cruse and Markita Barnes, who were sentenced to 111 months and 121 months in prison, respectively, for similar crimes. However, unlike Jackson, Cruse and Barnes did not accept full responsibility for their actions.

Chief Judge Pamela Pepper noted that Jackson’s fraud scheme, along with others in the Milwaukee area, has had a substantial negative impact on public trust in government benefit programs and the availability of the benefit program she defrauded.

The court ordered Jackson to pay restitution of $2,361,799.17 and issued a money judgment of forfeiture in the same amount. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin emphasized that public benefit programs must have barriers in place to prevent fraud, citing the massive thefts that occurred in this case. The office also noted that the FBI will aggressively pursue individuals who cheat healthcare programs and steal from the American taxpayer.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding individuals accountable for defrauding Medicaid and other public benefit programs.

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