AG Moody’s MFCU Shuts Down Fraud Ring Stealing More than $3 Million from Taxpayer-Funded Program
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit shut down a fraud ring that stole millions of dollars from Medicaid. Today, Attorney General Moody’s MFCU announced the arrests of the ringleader, Clive McIntosh, and accomplice, Tymeka Hester, on charges of racketeering, Medicaid fraud, money laundering and scheme to defraud. According to the investigation by MFCU, McIntosh recruited Medicaid providers, like Hester, to enroll in Medicaid, and then used the providers’ individual numbers to fraudulently bill for services not rendered. The scheme ultimately defrauded the taxpayer-funded program out of more than $3.5 million.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “In just two years’ time, the defendants stole more than $3.5 million from the Medicaid program—ripping off Florida taxpayers. Their elaborate fraudulent billing scheme, which also involved money laundering, spanned multiple counties until my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigators, working with local and federal law enforcement agencies, shut it down. Now the defendants will face my Statewide Prosecutors to answer for their crimes.”
MFCU began its investigation upon receiving information provided by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. The investigation revealed Clive McIntosh recruited respiratory therapists to enroll in Medicaid and tell McIntosh the provider numbers to fraudulently bill Medicaid.
In 2018, McIntosh recruited Tymeka Hester to join the scheme. From 2018-2020, Hester worked for McIntosh, billing for services never rendered for McIntosh. Hester is not McIntosh’s first recruit. In 2014, McIntosh recruited James Tenpenny to become a Medicaid provider, so McIntosh could use Tenpenny’s Medicaid number to fraudulently bill for services. The Clearwater Police Department arrested Tenpenny last year, and the defendant is currently facing charges for Medicaid fraud and scheme to defraud in Pinellas County for participating in the criminal enterprise.
Due to the fraudulent scheme, from June 2018 to August 2020, McIntosh and accomplices caused more than $3.5 million to be paid out for services not rendered as billed. In return for allowing McIntosh to use their provider numbers, both Tenpenny and Hester received financial kickbacks. McIntosh used the fraudulent Medicaid funds to purchase vehicles and opened a used-car business in Fort Lauderdale and Fort Pierce.
Today, Attorney General Moody’s MFCU, with the assistance of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, arrested McIntosh on the following charges: one count of RICO, one count of Medicaid fraud more than $50,000 and one count of money laundering—all first-degree felonies.
If convicted, Clive McIntosh faces up to 90 years in prison and $30,000 in fines.
MFCU, with the assistance of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, also arrested Hester on the following charges: one count Medicaid fraud more than $50,000 and one count of scheme to defraud—both first-degree felonies.
If convicted, Tymeka Hester faces up to 60 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
Both cases will be prosecuted by Attorney General Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution.
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The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. From January 2019 to the present, Attorney General Moody’s MFCU has obtained more than $180 million in settlements and judgments.
The Florida MFCU is funded through a grant totaling $30,219,404 for Federal Fiscal Year 2023, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General. The Federal Share of these funds is 75% totaling $22,664,556. The State Matching Share of these funds is 25% totaling $7,554,848 and is funded by Florida.