Daphne M. Chaisson, TennCare Fraud, Healthcare Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Using False Documents, Tennessee 2016

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TennCare Fraud and Identity Theft Scandal Hits Florida Woman

A 197-count indictment has been filed against Daphne M. Chaisson, a 45-year-old woman from Orlando, Florida, for allegedly defrauding TennCare and stealing the identities of multiple individuals.

According to the indictment, Chaisson owned a business that operated under two names – Creative Counseling, Inc. and Chaisson Creative Consulting, Inc. The business provided counseling services, including psychiatric diagnostic evaluation and psychotherapy, primarily to adolescents.

Between August 2009 and January 2014, Chaisson allegedly used her business to execute a scheme that billed TennCare for medical services that weren’t performed. She hired licensed counselors, but used their personal information to obtain TennCare provider numbers and bill the program without their knowledge or consent.

Chaisson also used the identities of minor patients to bill for counseling services without their knowledge or consent. In some cases, she billed for over 24 hours of counseling on a single day.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) investigation into Chaisson’s scheme revealed that she knowingly sent fictitious emails containing false documents to TBI agents.

Chaisson was indicted on Thursday, August 11, 2016, on multiple counts of healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft, and using false documents. Each count of healthcare fraud carries a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison, while each count of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory penalty of two years. Each count of using false documents carries a penalty of up to five years in federal prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean DeCandia is prosecuting the case on the government’s behalf. The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and Chaisson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the TBI. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.