Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.

Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw

Date: 07-23-2019

Case Style:

United States of America v. Michele Annette Honaker, Marilyn Yvette Blankenship and Chandler Dalton Blankenship

Case Number: 1:19-cr-00003-JPJ-PMS

Judge: James P. Jones

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (Washington County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Janine M. Myatt and Lean Busscher

Defendant's Attorney: Dennis Howard Lee for Michele Annette Honaker


Nancy Combs Dickenson - FPD for Danny Lee Honaker

Description:




Abington, VA - Twin Sisters Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare Fraud, Third Defendant Admits to Making False Statements

Two identical twin sisters, and one of their sons, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Abingdon to charges of conspiring to commit healthcare fraud and making a false statement in relation to the Social Security Act, United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced.

Michele Annette Honaker, 45, and Marilyn Yvette Blankenship, 45, both of Richlands, Va., pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to commit healthcare fraud. Chandler Dalton Blankenship, 26, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty today to one misdemeanor count of making a false statement in relation to the Social Security Act.

“Medicaid fraud, including billing for home healthcare services that were not actually provided, is a serious federal crime and one that can result in a prison sentence,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “We will continue to work closely with our partners at the Virginia Attorney General’s Office to investigate and prosecute individuals and organizations who illegally put profit over patient care and, in so doing, undermine these vital government programs.”

“Rooting out provider fraud helps keep the Medicaid program strong for those Virginians who truly need assistance,” said Attorney General Herring. “Our strong partnerships with state agencies, like the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, and federal partners, like U.S. Attorney Cullen and his team, ensure that our Medicaid dollars are used effectively.”

According to court documents filed during today’s plea hearing, at various times between April 1, 2008 and September 28, 2018, Michele Honaker and Marilyn Blankenship worked as service facilitators under the Virginia Medicaid program. As part of their duties, services facilitators are responsible for conducting home visits and re-assessments, and providing training, for Medicaid recipients. During this same time period, Chandler Blankenship worked for Michele Honaker, his aunt, and Marilyn Blankenship, his mother, and later became a services facilitator himself.

On multiple occasions, Michele Honaker and Marilyn Blankenship billed Virginia Medicaid for routine visits and re-assessment visits on the same date of service for the same recipients, when only one or the other visit actually occurred. Honaker and Marilyn Blankenship also billed for recipient training that never occurred.

In addition, on multiple occasions, all three defendants billed for face-to-face home visits and/or reassessment visits with Medicaid recipients on or after the recipient had died. All three defendants billed for face-to-face home visits that never occurred because the recipients have been moved to a nursing home or were otherwise discharged from services.

The investigation of the case was conducted by Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services. Special Assistant United States Attorney and Virginia Assistant Attorney General Janine M. Myatt and Assistant United States Attorney Lena Busscher are prosecuting the case for the United States.


Charges:


Michele Honaker:


18:1349.F - ATTEMPT AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FRAUD - 18:1349 - Health Care Fraud - (9/28/18)
(1)
18:1347.F - HEALTH CARE FRAUD - 18:2 & 1347 - (9/28/18)
(2)
18:1035.F - FALSE STATEMENTS RELATING TO HEALTH CARE MATTERS - 18:2 & 1035 - False Statement to Healthcare Benefit Program - (5/3/17)
(3-9)
18:1028A.F - FRAUD WITH IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS - 18:2 & 1028A
(21-27)


Blankenship:


18:1349.F - ATTEMPT AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FRAUD - 18:1349 - Health Care Fraud - (9/28/18)
(1)
18:1347.F - HEALTH CARE FRAUD - 18:2 & 1347 - (9/28/18)
(2)
18:1035.F - FALSE STATEMENTS RELATING TO HEALTH CARE MATTERS -18:2 & 1035 - False Statement to Healthcare Benefit Program - (9/22/17)
(10-14)
18:1028A.F - FRAUD WITH IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS - 18:2 & 1028A - Aggravated Identity Theft - (9/22/17)
(28-32)

Outcome: Michele Annette Honaker and Marilyn Yvetter Blankenship pleaded guilty.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments:



Find a Lawyer

Subject:
City:
State:
 

Find a Case

Subject:
County:
State: