Related Federal Cases
Shirley Transporter Bilks Medicaid Out of $1M+
NEW YORK – James Bessell, Sr., 65, of Shirley, New York, is headed to state prison after admitting to a brazen scheme to steal over $1 million from New York’s Medicaid program. The owner and operator of Jim Jim Rentals, Inc., Bessell exploited vulnerable New Yorkers with fabricated billing and a network of illegal kickbacks, Attorney General Letitia James announced today.
Bessell, who ran a transportation company contracted to ferry Medicaid recipients to medical appointments, didn’t bother with actually *providing* those services. Instead, the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) uncovered a systematic pattern of submitting claims for rides that never happened. The victims? Often deceased, incarcerated, or already hospitalized patients – all while Bessell lined his pockets.
The scam, spanning from March 2019 through August 2023, involved a chillingly calculated pyramid scheme. Bessell paid Medicaid recipients to *skip* their appointments, including crucial substance abuse treatment, then billed Medicaid anyway. He further incentivized his co-conspirators by offering rewards for recruiting others into the fraudulent operation. Over $1 million in illicit payments flowed from Medicaid to Bessell and his company.
On September 30, 2025, Bessell and Jim Jim Rentals each pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony, in Suffolk County Court. On January 8, 2026, Bessell received a sentence of one and a half to four and a half years in state prison. He was also ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution to the New York Medicaid program. Jim Jim Rentals received a Conditional Discharge.
“Exploiting the Medicaid program for personal profit jeopardizes the health care of vulnerable New Yorkers,” stated Attorney General James. “Jim Bessell’s fraudulent schemes were illegal and diverted critical resources away from Medicaid. My office will continue to stop fraud in our health care system to ensure every New Yorker can get the quality care they deserve.” Bessell and Jim Jim Rentals are now permanently barred from providing services under any government-funded health programs, including Medicare.
The OAG’s MFCU investigation, spearheaded by Detectives Thomas Fisch and Allison Smith, with support from Supervisor Christopher Miro and Deputy Chief Investigator Ronald Lynch, was aided by financial analysis from a team of auditors led by MaryAnn Carney. The New York State Department of Health and the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General also provided crucial assistance in bringing Bessell to justice. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who prey on the healthcare system will be held accountable.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: NY AG
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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