OIG works with law enforcement agencies across Texas
The OIG collaborates with law enforcement across Texas to hold individuals accountable who seek to defraud health and human services. During fiscal year 2022, OIG team members assisted federal, state and local agencies with criminal cases that led to numerous felony arrests in Texas. Find some of these case details below. :
The OIG partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigations' McAllen Criminal Investigations Division Task Force to assist with a durable medical equipment provider investigation. According to the indictment, the provider billed Medicaid more than $4 million between 2006 and 2013 for claims supported by either false or missing documentation. Investigators referred the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution. The provider pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and agreed to pay $3,652,195 in restitution.
A U.S. Marshal contacted a Benefits Program Integrity (BPI) investigator regarding the shooting death of a 75-year-old man in his Weslaco home. Surveillance video captured the suspect's vehicle, and deputies contacted the OIG when they identified the truck at a convenience store minutes before the shooting. The investigator provided the suspect's name and address based on the Lone Star card used at the store. Authorities arrested a 35-year-old man who confessed that while driving, he shot his gun towards the victim's street with no intention of shooting the victim. The suspect was charged with manslaughter.
The Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Trafficking Unit in Grand Prairie provided information that led to a homicide suspect's arrest after Plano Police Department detectives identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old Dallas resident. The department asked the OIG to locate the suspect, whom they believed to be a SNAP client. OIG investigators conducted searches and provided information that directly resulted in the suspect's apprehension.
An OIG investigator determined that a man who applied for and received Medicaid and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits was a Mexican citizen. The OIG's BPI unit worked with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Office of Inspector General – Social Security Administration to verify the man had fraudulently received more than $247,000 in government assistance payments over six years. He was sentenced to 45 months in prison and will pay full restitution.