Missouri Dental Duo Busted for $1M Fraud

SPRINGFIELD, MO – A Marshfield, Missouri couple is facing federal charges after a grand jury indicted them for a sprawling fraud scheme that bilked Medicaid and the IRS out of over $1 million. Pamela Van Drie, 57, and her husband, Lorin G. Van Drie, 57, allegedly ran a network of dental clinics and a management company while systematically defrauding both healthcare programs and the federal government.

The 40-count indictment, unsealed today following Pamela Van Drie’s arrest, details a scheme spanning from October 6, 2010, to August 19, 2015. The Van Dries owned All About Smiles, LLC, which operated clinics in Springfield (closed November 2015), Mountain Grove (closed October 2014), and Bolivar (closed March 2014). They also controlled PL Family Management Company, LLC, which handled staffing for the clinics. The indictment paints a picture of a calculated effort to maximize profits at the expense of taxpayers and legitimate patients.

The core of the alleged health care fraud – totaling $885,748 – revolved around two distinct schemes. First, the Van Dries and a dentist working for them allegedly provided dentures and other dental services to individuals ineligible for Medicaid reimbursement, then fraudulently submitted claims anyway. The indictment claims Pamela Van Drie facilitated the submission of $720,048 in claims lacking required physician referrals. Second, they allegedly misrepresented costly orthodontic appliances, known as Ortho-Tain, as cheaper “speech aid prostheses” to bypass Medicaid’s precertification requirements. These appliances, purchased for around $50 each, were billed to Medicaid at approximately $695 apiece, netting All About Smiles roughly $165,700 on 241 fraudulent claims.

But the alleged greed didn’t stop with Medicaid. From January 31, 2013, to January 31, 2015, the Van Dries are accused of failing to remit approximately $194,751 in payroll taxes withheld from their employees’ paychecks. Instead of forwarding these funds to the IRS, the indictment alleges they diverted money for personal use, enriching themselves while shirking their legal obligations. This constitutes a separate conspiracy to defraud the government.

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced the indictment, signaling a serious commitment to prosecuting those who exploit the healthcare system and evade their tax responsibilities. The indictment specifically charges Pamela Van Drie with the health care fraud conspiracy, and both Pamela and Lorin Van Drie with the payroll tax fraud conspiracy. Further details regarding court dates and potential penalties were not immediately available. The investigation remains ongoing, and Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.

This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about a betrayal of trust. The Van Dries allegedly profited from a system designed to help those in need, and simultaneously stiffed the government – and their employees – out of money rightfully owed. The Western District of Missouri will not tolerate this kind of blatant disregard for the law.”