Healthcare Fraud Crackdown: Minnesota Providers among 455 Charged in Nationwide Operation
In a massive operation targeting healthcare fraud, seven healthcare providers from Minnesota have been charged. This is part of a national crackdown involving 455 individuals across 45 states and territories. The accused are believed to have wrongly claimed more than $6.5 billion combined.
Details of the Fraudulent Claims
The seven individuals charged in Minnesota are believed to have falsely billed over $700,000 in total. The suspects include:
Individual Cases Explained
Jackson is accused of billing for over 6,000 hours of personal care assistant services, amounting to $125,000. The charges suggest that it was impossible for Jackson to provide these services over the claimed two-year period as he was employed as a college basketball coach in Kansas.
Pryor, on the other hand, is alleged to have claimed over $150,000 for providing psychotherapy and counseling services, despite lacking the necessary license and credentials. Instead, she is accused of using the identities of three licensed individuals.
Navarro is accused of claiming $70,000 in reimbursements for services supposedly provided to a child over two years, despite the child having moved to California.
Elsaid allegedly submitted over 1,655 fraudulent claims, totaling more than $182,000, for services supposedly rendered when either he or the recipient was out of the country.
Agwa, like Elsaid, is claimed to have billed for services during periods when either he or the recipient was abroad. He is alleged to have claimed over $94,000 in services, including nearly 100 hours after the recipient's death.
Sherrod is accused of billing over $60,000 in services while concurrently employed at another job.
Lastly, Wavra is alleged to have billed $29,000 for services that she did not provide.
The Fight against Fraud
These charges underscore the ongoing efforts to combat Medicaid fraud. "I have no patience for anyone who would steal our tax dollars, especially when those tax dollars are meant to provide healthcare for low-income Minnesotans who couldn't afford it otherwise," said a senior official. "We are working hard day in and day out to hold Medicaid fraudsters accountable and recover the tax dollars they stole from hardworking Minnesotans."
Of the seven Minnesota cases, two were flagged by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), two were referred by a health insurer, two were forwarded by the local police, and one was reported by a private citizen.
Since 2019, the authorities have secured 340 convictions for Medicaid fraud and recovered $90 million in judgments and recoveries.
Boosting the Battle against Fraud
In response to the growing issue of fraud, Minnesota lawmakers have approved an additional $1.2 million in funding this year for the fight against fraud. This money will be used to hire 18 more staff members. Further funds have been earmarked for the same purpose in the next budget cycle.
The Response from the DHS
The Minnesota Department of Human Services stated that five of the seven accused providers were removed from the state’s Medicaid program, while the other two were not enrolled with the DHS and were acted upon by managed care organizations.
The DHS also revealed that it has stopped payment to 695 providers based on credible allegations of fraud and made more than 655 referrals to law enforcement since the beginning of 2025.
A statement from the DHS Inspector General expressed support for the recent charges and highlighted the department's ongoing cooperation with law enforcement to tackle healthcare fraud.
In a massive operation targeting healthcare fraud, seven healthcare providers from Minnesota have been charged. This is part of a national crackdown involving 455 individuals across 45 states and territories. The accused are believed to have wrongly claimed more than $6.5 billion combined.
Details of the Fraudulent Claims
The seven individuals charged in Minnesota are believed to have falsely billed over $700,000 in total. The suspects include:
- Tremayne Lemar Jackson
- Christine Marie Pryor
- Fernando Navarro
- Shawki Elsaid
- Ahmed Agwa
- Edward Sherrod
- Jessica Wavra
Individual Cases Explained
Jackson is accused of billing for over 6,000 hours of personal care assistant services, amounting to $125,000. The charges suggest that it was impossible for Jackson to provide these services over the claimed two-year period as he was employed as a college basketball coach in Kansas.
Pryor, on the other hand, is alleged to have claimed over $150,000 for providing psychotherapy and counseling services, despite lacking the necessary license and credentials. Instead, she is accused of using the identities of three licensed individuals.
Navarro is accused of claiming $70,000 in reimbursements for services supposedly provided to a child over two years, despite the child having moved to California.
Elsaid allegedly submitted over 1,655 fraudulent claims, totaling more than $182,000, for services supposedly rendered when either he or the recipient was out of the country.
Agwa, like Elsaid, is claimed to have billed for services during periods when either he or the recipient was abroad. He is alleged to have claimed over $94,000 in services, including nearly 100 hours after the recipient's death.
Sherrod is accused of billing over $60,000 in services while concurrently employed at another job.
Lastly, Wavra is alleged to have billed $29,000 for services that she did not provide.
The Fight against Fraud
These charges underscore the ongoing efforts to combat Medicaid fraud. "I have no patience for anyone who would steal our tax dollars, especially when those tax dollars are meant to provide healthcare for low-income Minnesotans who couldn't afford it otherwise," said a senior official. "We are working hard day in and day out to hold Medicaid fraudsters accountable and recover the tax dollars they stole from hardworking Minnesotans."
Of the seven Minnesota cases, two were flagged by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), two were referred by a health insurer, two were forwarded by the local police, and one was reported by a private citizen.
Since 2019, the authorities have secured 340 convictions for Medicaid fraud and recovered $90 million in judgments and recoveries.
Boosting the Battle against Fraud
In response to the growing issue of fraud, Minnesota lawmakers have approved an additional $1.2 million in funding this year for the fight against fraud. This money will be used to hire 18 more staff members. Further funds have been earmarked for the same purpose in the next budget cycle.
The Response from the DHS
The Minnesota Department of Human Services stated that five of the seven accused providers were removed from the state’s Medicaid program, while the other two were not enrolled with the DHS and were acted upon by managed care organizations.
The DHS also revealed that it has stopped payment to 695 providers based on credible allegations of fraud and made more than 655 referrals to law enforcement since the beginning of 2025.
A statement from the DHS Inspector General expressed support for the recent charges and highlighted the department's ongoing cooperation with law enforcement to tackle healthcare fraud.