TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced the arrest of a Jacksonville assisted living facility owner on charges that she submitted false claims to the Florida Medicaid program. Shirley Adams, owner of the Adams Adult Family Care Home, allegedly billed the Medicaid program for more than $20,000 in fraudulent reimbursements. She was taken into custody by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

An investigation by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that Adams, 57, was operating an assisted living facility that was not properly licensed. The facility was only licensed to house four adult clients but at times had up to six clients, some of whom were children, living at the facility, and Adams was billing Medicaid to reimburse her for their care. The improper billing lasted approximately 19 months.

Adams is charged with schemes to defraud, a third-degree felony punishable by five years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. She will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the 4th Judicial Circuit.