Prince George’s County Man Charged with Medicaid Fraud

BALTIMORE, MD (June 16, 2008) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Lon Hamilton, Jr., 70, of the 6000 block of Furman Court in Riverdale was charged in Prince George’s County Circuit Court in a 12 count indictment with Medicaid fraud and felony theft for falsely billing the Medicaid Program for services that he did not provide.

The indictment charges that Hamilton engaged in a scheme to defraud the Medicaid Program from March 2004 through August 2005, by knowingly submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement to the Maryland Medicaid Program. Those claims represented that Hamilton had provided therapy services to eligible Medicaid recipients in Prince George’s County when Hamilton knew that the services had not been performed. Medicaid is a joint state and federal-funded program that provides health services to the indigent.

Medicaid fraud is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Felony theft is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. If convicted, Hamilton may also be ordered to pay restitution of up to three times the amount allegedly stolen from the Medicaid Program. Trial is set for August 21, 2008.

This case is being prosecuted by Attorney General Gansler’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit based upon a referral from the Maryland Hygiene Administration. The Maryland Hygiene Administration coordinates the mental health services provided by Medicaid.