Counselor pleads: Medicaid Fraud, Identity Theft

OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma City man pleaded guilty to two counts of Medicaid fraud and one count of identity theft following charges brought by Attorney General Scott Pruitt.

Damon N. Wells, 34, was employed as a Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Specialist at Pennington Creek Life House. Wells contracted with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to provide behavioral health counseling services to Medicaid recipients. During this time, Wells befriended the parent of four children to form a relationship to use the children’s Medicaid identities to bill for counselling services he did not perform.

Wells told the OHCA that he spent several hours a day with all four children when in fact, he spent much of his time playing basketball with only the male children.  The parent told investigators for the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit that Wells never counselled the two female children. Nonetheless, Wells billed OHCA for $42,267.66, using the personal identities of the two children.

Ok Attorney General Scott Pruitt

As part of the Court’s order, Wells will not be allowed to perform services to any Medicaid recipients during his probationary period.  He was also ordered to surrender any professional licenses that would allow him to provide behavioral health counseling.

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is the only Oklahoma law enforcement agency dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of Medicaid fraud. The unit also investigates and prosecutes abuse of residents in Medicaid-funded nursing homes and state facilities. To report suspected Medicaid fraud or abuse, contact the AG’s Office at (405) 522-2963.