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Todd Rokita Oversees Eight Investigations Leading To Charges Nationwide Healthcare Fraud

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Attorney General Todd Rokita today announced that his office has played a key role in a major nationwide enforcement action against doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals for alleged participation in health care fraud schemes. The Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) conducted eight criminal investigations in alleged Medicaid fraud, leading to charges against nine individuals.

“In Indiana, Medicaid benefits are intended to help provide needed medical care for disabled and low-income Hoosiers,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Unfortunately, unscrupulous providers all too often try to divert these resources to serve their own selfish desires. In the process, they scam their fellow taxpayers whose hard-earned money supports these programs. Our team of lawyers and investigators will continue to hold accountable all those who illegally try to defraud the system.”

In the eight cases, the Indiana Attorney General’s MFCU investigated licensed healthcare professionals and medical offices where suspected illegal activity occurred.

In all the mentioned cases, Attorney General Rokita’s attorneys are prosecuting the alleged crimes with assent of the local prosecutors’ offices in the counties where the alleged crimes occurred.

These investigations are part of a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Following are summations of cases in which Indiana’s MFCU investigators participated. In each case, the fact that a person has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and these persons are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The abbreviations “LPN” and “RN” designate licensed practical nurses and registered nurses, respectively.

  • In Bartholomew County, LPN Erin McMillan, 44, of Columbus, Indiana, is charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud; furnishing false or fraudulent information; and failure to make, keep, or furnish a record — all Level 6 felonies. Among other things, the complaint alleges that video footage was viewed by staff at the facility where McMillan worked showing her removing medications from the narcotic box and then never leaving the area to go administer the medications. Staff also allegedly observed her walking back behind the nurses’ station and putting items into her personal bag. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Grainne Kao of the Indiana MFCU.
  • In Hancock County, RN Wendy Hahn, 52, of Indianapolis, is charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and furnishing false or fraudulent information — both level 6 felonies. She was also charged with theft as a class A misdemeanor. The complaint alleges that Hahn was arrested in Rush County on different charges, and the arresting officer, in searching her vehicle, found controlled substances packaged for patients. The police relayed that information to the Indiana MFCU, which opened an investigation into the origin of the medication. MFCU Investigator Jack Beckley was able to connect the medication to a Hancock County facility. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Grainne Kao of Indiana MFCU.
  • In Hendricks County, Heather Heugel, 37, of Plainfield, Indiana, is charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud; furnishing false or fraudulent information; and failure to make, keep, or furnish a record — all Level 6 felonies. It is further alleged that in a statement, Heugel stated she did not have an explanation for these errors and had not been making the best decisions. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Grainne Kao of the Indiana MFCU.
  • In Lake County, Kandice Duke, 43, of Merrillville, Indiana, is charged with two counts of Level 6 Felony Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud/deceit or Subterfuge.  Duke is alleged to have stolen narcotic pain medication prescribed for two residents at a Crown Point facility while she was working as an LPN. It is further alleged that during the course of the investigation Duke admitted taking the pills for her personal use. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Maureen O’Donnell of the Indiana MFCU.
  • In LaPorte County, Traci Lindfors, 50, of Michigan City, Indiana, is charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud; furnishing false or fraudulent information; and failure to make, keep, or furnish a record — all Level 6 felonies. The complaint alleges, among other things, that Lindfors withheld medication from residents at the facility where she worked in order to keep the medication for herself. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Grainne Kao of the Indiana MFCU.
  • In LaPorte County, RN Victoria Lee Bell, 57, of Michigan City, Indiana, is charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and failure to make, keep, or furnish a record — both Level 6 felonies. Among other things, the complaint alleges that Bell admitted to stealing medication. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Grainne Kao of the Indiana MFCU.
  • In Madison County, RN Melissa Lou Fannin, 43, of Hartford City, Indiana, is charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, furnishing false or fraudulent information, and possession of a narcotic drug — all Level 6 felonies. It is alleged that Fannin, while working at a hospital, dispensed hydromorphone at a rate 155% higher than the next RN in the same unit and was taking controlled substances for her own use. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Grainne Kao of the Indiana MFCU.
  • In Marshall County, Daniel Tanner, 52, is charged with aiding, inducing, or causing the practice of medicine without a license — a Level 5 felony; issuing invalid prescription for legend drugs by a practitioner—a Level 6 felony; and aiding, inducing, or causing practicing nursing while license suspended or revoked — a Class B misdemeanor. His brother, David Tanner, 55, is charged with practicing medicine without a license — a Level 5 felony — and practicing nursing while license suspended or revoked — a Class B misdemeanor. These charges are in connection with their operation of Concierge Medicine of Marshall County. It is alleged that Daniel Tanner, a nurse practitioner, owned and operated Concierge Medicine and employed his brother David Tanner as a nurse, despite David’s nursing license having been indefinitely suspended since 2005. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Anwarzai with Indiana MFCU. This matter was investigated by Indiana MFCU and the Indiana State Police.

Attorney General Rokita expressed gratitude to the investigators and attorneys of his Indiana MFCU team for their hard work on these cases.

The Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a federal grant. The remaining 25 percent is funded by the State of Indiana.

Patoka Man Arrested for Child Molesting

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Gibson County – An Indiana State Police investigation has resulted in the arrest of Timothy Allen Head, 54, of Patoka, for Child Molesting, a Level 1 Felony.

Indiana State Police Detective Toni Walden initiated a criminal investigation earlier this month after receiving information that Head had allegedly molested a female under the age of 14. During the investigation, Detective Walden revealed Head had allegedly molested the female juvenile on multiple occasions between the summer of 2020 and May 29, 2023. The investigation also revealed that Head had allegedly purchased alcohol for the juvenile on more than one occasion.

The Gibson County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the investigation, and a felony arrest warrant was issued for his arrest. Head was arrested this afternoon after he turned himself in at the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

Arrested and Charge:

  • Timothy Allen Head, 54, Patoka, IN
  1. Child Molesting, Level 1 Felony

Investigating Officer: Detective Toni Walden, Indiana State Police

USI Communal Studies Association Conference to explore communal theory, practice and impact

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The Communal Studies Association (CSA) Conference will meet Thursday through Saturday, October 5-7, on the USI campus and in New Harmony, Indiana. The theme for the 2023 Conference is “Communal Theory, Practice and Impact,” in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the CSA.

The CSA is an interdisciplinary organization for individuals living in intentional communities, historic site personnel, and academics representing topics including history, anthropology, religious studies, sociology, political science and others.

“This will be a year of celebration as the group, founded by USI’s own Dr. Donald Pitzer when I was an undergrad, returns for its 50th annual Conference,” says Dr. Greg Brown, Conference Committee Chair. “I am excited to see this group of scholars and practitioners focused on positive ways of living return to New Harmony. I believe the focus on human cooperative behavior is as important in 2023 as it has ever been.”

The Conference will open Thursday, October 5 with a banquet in Carter Hall, located in University Center West. On Friday and Saturday, October 6-7, participants will have the opportunity to listen in on various panels, including “What is Happening in Your Community? Why Community Development Matters,” “Following the Feminist Footsteps: Mapping the Movements of Two Communal Socialists,” and many more in various, historic locations around New Harmony. For a full list of panels and locations, visit communalstudies.org.

“The University is uniquely situated to help address some of the contemporary challenges facing humanity because of its Center for Communal Studies, with its collection of over 500 communities, 15,000 images and 243 oral histories,” says Dr. Silvia Rode, Director of the Center for Communal Studies and Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “Since 1976, the Center has flourished as the foremost research institution in the United States for historical communal groups, intentional communities and utopia. In addition, USI’s communal studies minor allows students to explore the diverse history and social, economic and political structure of current communal experiments in the United States and the world.”

To learn more about, and register for, the Communal Studies Conference, visit communalstudies.org. For questions, contact Rode at sarode@usi.edu or 812-465-7026.

Meet Natalie Rascher Candidate for Mayor at Cambridge Golf Course

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Franken-Flowers & Vase-Ensteins Exhibition To Be On Display At USI New Harmony Gallery Of Contemporary Art

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The University of Southern Indiana’s New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art (NHGCA) is proud to present Franken-Flowers & Vase-Ensteins, a group exhibition showcasing a class project from the 2023 Spring Semester advanced ceramics courses.

Franken-Flowers & Vase-Ensteins is open now through July 29, featuring a reception from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, July 8 at the NHGCA. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

“USI students in Ceramics 2, 3, 4 and 489 began this project by each creating a variety of vessel shapes, neck shapes, and handles or sculptural accessories. They then collaborated on putting the parts together to create a variety of vase forms,” said Al Holen, Associate Professor of Ceramics. “The construction took place under ‘Top Chef’ style time limits, so decisions and building took place quickly. After the ‘Vase-Ensteins’ were complete, students studied their creations and took inspiration from them. These inspirations were used in their individual vase creations.”

In Franken-Flowers & Vase-Ensteins, whimsy and experimentation run the gambit. Through the collaboration of students, different aesthetics combine to create unexpected and dynamic ceramic works of art.

Artists included in the exhibition are Ashley Banks, Delaney Bigler, Emma Eaton, Elizabeth Garland, Al Holen, Katie Holloway, Ryan Huck, Lisa Ryan-Hutton, Summer Skelton, Shyanne Steward, Jaeda Thomason and Jade Young.

NHGCA is dedicated to enhancing the experiences of students through an artist-run exhibition space in the Back Gallery (BG). BG Projects at NHGCA allows students to exhibit, experiment and/or curate within a working contemporary art gallery setting. Through exhibition and curatorial strategies, students can envision new possibilities for collaborations and their art practice.

NHGCA promotes discourse about and access to contemporary art in the Southern Indiana region.

YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY REPORTS DECLINES IN COMMERCIAL TOBACCO, E-CIGARETTE USE, BUT CONCERNS REMAIN

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INDIANAPOLIS — The 2022 Indiana Youth Tobacco survey (IYTS), released Tuesday, shows that youth commercial tobacco use among Hoosiers is the lowest measured in the past two decades, and e-cigarette usage is the lowest since 2012. However, even though fewer youth are using tobacco products, the frequent use of e-cigarettes is higher than previous years, the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) reported.

The IYTS is a biennial survey that is representative of Indiana public school students and collects data from students in grades 6 to 12 regarding all types of tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, access to tobacco products, knowledge and attitudes, media and advertising, school curriculum and tobacco cessation. More than 2,900 high school students and more than 2,500 middle school students participated in the 2022 survey.

Over 1 in 10 high school students (10.5 percent) and 1 in 30 middle school students (3.3 percent) in Indiana reported current tobacco product use in the 2022 survey. Of those who currently used tobacco, about one-fourth of middle school students (24.6 percent) and one-third of high school students (30.6 percent) reported using more than one tobacco product.

The majority of youth who used tobacco in the past 30 days – 64.7 percent of middle school youth and 74.5 percent of high school youth – reported using flavored tobacco products.

“We are pleased to see that overall tobacco use is lower among Indiana youth, which is the same pattern being observed nationally,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “But it is concerning that the majority of students who use tobacco reported using flavored tobacco, including menthol. We know that flavors increase the appeal of tobacco products to youth, promote youth initiation, and can contribute to lifelong tobacco use.”

E-cigarette rates were also lower than in previous years, with 9.2 percent of high schoolers and 2.2 percent of middle schoolers reporting current use. However, e-cigarettes were still the most commonly used tobacco product among Indiana youth in 2022. The rate of frequent e-cigarette use (20 or more of the past 30 days) was higher than previous years and was 44 percent among high school students who currently used e-cigarettes. Additionally, among youth who have never used e-cigarettes, approximately 20 percent of middle school and high school youth were deemed susceptible to future tobacco product experimentation or use based on responses to specific survey questions.   “Indiana has been vigilant about addressing youth tobacco use on many fronts, from schools and parents to local and state public health organizations,” said Miranda Spitznagle, director of Tobacco Prevention and Cessation at the Indiana Department of Health. “We hope these entities can continue working together to ensure all Hoosier youth have access to free services to help them quit and to all the same protections from commercial tobacco to make sure they never start.”

The IYTS found that Indiana youth who use tobacco and e-cigarette products are interested in quitting. Among youth who currently used tobacco, 74.6 percent of middle school students and 55.9 percent of high school students made at least one quit attempt in the past year. Similarly, among youth who currently used e-cigarettes, 66.7 percent of middle school students and 53.9 percent of high school students made a quit attempt.

Programs and free resources are available to Indiana parents and educators. Young Hoosiers who are interested in quitting e-cigarettes can text INDIANA to 873373. Parents, educators and healthcare providers can visit in.gov/vapefreeindiana for more information and resources to help young people quit or never start using tobacco products.

Indiana State Police Trooper Struck and Killed During Pursuit in Hendricks County

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(Hendricks County, IN)- The Indiana State Police is mourning the loss of one of its own tonight as a result of a vehicle crash incident which occurred this afternoon on Ronald Reagan Parkway, north of I-70. The crash claimed the life of Trooper Aaron N. Smith, 33 years of age from Franklin, IN, who served with the Indiana State Police for nearly five years.

The preliminary investigation by the Indiana State Police indicates that at approximately 8:40 p.m. this evening, Trooper Smith was assisting other troopers on Ronald Reagan Parkway with a pursuit of a stolen vehicle.

Trooper Smith attempted to de-escalate that vehicle pursuit by deploying stop sticks.  Trooper Smith was struck by the suspect vehicle and critically injured.  Emergency medical care was rendered at the scene, and he was rushed to Eskenazi Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Trooper Smith is survived by his wife.  Family notifications have been made.

“This is a tremendously sad day for the entire Indiana State Police family.  We will band together as we always do in support of Trooper Smith’s family, friends and co-workers”, said Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter.

The suspect driver involved in this incident, along with an adult and juvenile passenger were all transported to Indianapolis hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

This is still an ongoing investigation.  All findings will be turned over to the Hendricks County Prosecutor for review and determination of any further charges that may be filed.

The Indiana State Police was assisted at the scene by the Plainfield Police Department, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Plainfield Fire Department, and Troopers from neighboring Indiana State Police Putnamville Post.

No additional information is available for release at this time.

Breaststroke U Flexes as King, Matheny Qualify for World Championships

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INDIANAPOLIS — Lilly King and Josh Matheny punched their tickets to the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships on Wednesday (June 28) and four swimmers with ties to the Indiana swimming and diving program finished top 10 in the 200-meter breaststroke at the Phillips 66 National Championships inside the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.

In the women’s event, King and Indiana Swim Club training partner Annie Lazor came in as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively, after prelims. The 2020 Olympic medalists reached another podium together as King held off Virginia’s Kate Douglass with the second-fastest time of her career, a 2:20.95. Lazor took bronze in 2:25.86.

King will look to defend her 200 breast world crown after she became the first American swimmer to win a career treble of golds in the 50-100-200 of any stroke at the long course world championships a year ago in Budapest. She remains the second-fastest American ever in the event with her 2:19.92 at the Tokyo Olympics.

Josh Matheny broke Cody Miller’s 200-meter breaststroke program record with a 2:08.32 swim to finish in second place in the men’s race. As the runner-up, he also clinched a spot in USA Swimming’s roster for World Championships, his first time making a senior roster for world championships. Matheny won the event at the 2019 World Junior Championships before joining Indiana in 2021.

Moments before, teammate Jassen Yep set his second lifetime best of the day and won the B final to place ninth nationally.

King and Matheny join a growing list of Hoosiers qualified for the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships. Divers Andrew Capobianco, Jessica Parratto and Maxwell Weinrich will also represent Team USA. Mariah Denigan has clinched a spot on the USA Swimming Open Water National Team and associated head coach Cory Chitwood will serve as assistant coach for that discipline. Additionally, international swimmers Marwan Elkamash (Egypt), Tomer Frankel (Israel), Ching Hwee Gan (Singapore), Ahmed Hafnaoui (Tunisia) and Rafael Miroslaw (Germany) have all qualified for their respective national teams.

The Phillips 66 National Championships continue through Saturday (July 1) in Indianapolis as the Hoosiers look to add more cream and crimson to the Team USA roster. Through two days at the meet, Hoosiers have collected 14 personal bests and 26 Olympic Trial cuts.

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

 

FOOTNOTE:  EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

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Courier Warrants

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