UPDATE: Middle Georgia Family Rehab owner sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice
Brenda Hicks, the owner of Middle Georgia Family Rehab, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
UPDATE (9/5/24): Brenda Hicks, the owner of Middle Georgia Family Rehab, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, Hicks was also ordered to pay $191,645.20 in restitution to TRICARE, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicaid and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
ORIGINAL STORY (6/5/24):
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The owner of Middle Georgia Family Rehab pleaded guilty on June 5 to conspiracy to obstruct justice by ordering employees to alter documents during a federal healthcare billing investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
58-year-old Brenda Hicks faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The plea agreement also requires Hicks to pay restitution to TRICARE, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicaid, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Sentencing is scheduled for September 5.
“Anyone who attempts to alter or destroy documents requested as part of a federal investigation will face federal penalties for breaking the law,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said. “For the sake of justice and truth, it is imperative that the integrity of the investigation is maintained for the benefit of all parties.”
Court documents show that Middle Georgia Family Rehab, LLC (MGFR)—with locations in Byron and Macon—received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) on October 7, 2019, requesting patient records. Hicks directed employees to falsify records if necessary, to comply with the CID. One employee quit after expressing concerns about the legality of the actions, while another complied with Hicks’ instructions, fabricating and signing documents. These falsified records were then submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office on December 2, 2019.
For more information about the civil action, click here.
The case was investigated by the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DOD-DCIS); the Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); and the Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG); with substantial assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Dietrick provided previous assistance.
