NEW BERN, N.C. – Greed fueled a brazen scheme at Life Touch LLC, a Kinston-based substance abuse treatment center, and now two former leaders are facing the consequences. Keke Komeko Johnson, of Pikeville, the former Compliance Director, and Francine Sims Super, of Kinston, the former office manager, both pleaded guilty this week to their roles in a calculated plot to defraud Medicaid and evade taxes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office isn’t mincing words. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal and local law enforcement partners will continue to pursue crooks who prey upon America’s generous social service safety net,” declared U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “These two fraudsters not only targeted federal tax dollars but also took advantage of vulnerable individuals who were trying to turn their lives around. The more kickbacks that they paid to vulnerable addicts, the more they were able to help the company steal from Medicaid.” Boyle’s statement underscores the severity of the betrayal: exploiting addiction for profit.
Court documents paint a damning picture. Johnson, Super, and their co-conspirators funneled over $1 million in Medicaid reimbursement funds into gift cards. The purchases, often disguised through personal bank accounts, weren’t for patient care – they were weekly incentives, a blatant pay-for-presence scheme. For four years, Life Touch LLC routinely rewarded patients based on how many days they attended services. Every appearance meant more money for the company, and more stolen funds from Medicaid. Johnson compounded the crime by lying to Medicaid auditors, while Super fabricated documents to cover their tracks.
The corruption didn’t stop there. Johnson and Super also pocketed kickbacks from 1st Choice Healthcare Services, LLC, a lab contracted for drug testing. This illicit income went unreported on their tax returns, adding the charge of failure to file to their mounting legal woes. This wasn’t just about manipulating Medicaid; it was a full-scale assault on the tax system.
Both women will have plenty of time to reflect on their choices. Keke Komeko Johnson faces a maximum of 11 years in prison at her sentencing in November 2025. Francine Sims Super is looking at a maximum of 6 years. This case sends a clear message: Medicaid kickback thieves face serious consequences.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office – Medicaid Investigations Division. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tasha Gardner and Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Gilmore are prosecuting the case. Court documents can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina website or on PACER (Case No. 4:25-CR-27 and 4:25-CR-28).
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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