Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced a major enforcement action that led to the arrest of 21 people accused of Medicaid fraud or cruelty to dependent individuals, and she has elevated the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit into a standalone division to strengthen those efforts.
Attorney General Liz Murrill revealed the results of a sweep targeting alleged abuse of Medicaid funds and neglect of vulnerable people in care settings. The arrests mark another step in a long-running push to reclaim taxpayer dollars and hold wrongdoers accountable.
The Attorney General’s office said the operation was led by what was the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, now upgraded into its own division within the Louisiana Department of Justice. That move is meant to centralize resources, streamline investigations, and improve prosecution of provider fraud and facility abuse.
The 21 people accused of Medicaid fraud are listed below. The names, ages, and hometowns were released by the office as part of the case summaries compiled by investigators.
- Ashley Griffin – Age 43, of Aubrey, Texas
- Tongia Hill-Moy – Age 41 of Monroe, LA
- Felicia Douglas – Age 46 of Ruston, LA
- Adrian Lacour Brooks – Age 43 of Alexandria, LA
- Carolyn Brown – Age 62 of Natchez, MS
- Mercedez Harris – Age 34 of Collinston, LA
- Constance Jones – Age 51 of Shreveport, LA
- Tiera Green – Age 31 of Baton Rouge, LA
- Amanda Taylor – Age 38 of Baton Rouge, LA
- Valerie Roy – Age 34 of Crowley, LA
- Analeah Turlington – Age 42 of Pollack, LA
- Chrisshantenite Paul – Age 33 of Baton Rouge, LA
- Asha Clark – Age 23 of Mount Hermon, LA
- Arthur Bracey – Age 49 of Alexandria, LA
- Christopher Zone – Age 52 of Alexandria, LA
- Kirstan Wells – Age 33 of Hammond, LA
- Jaquala Robertson – Age 36 of Hammond, LA
- Victoria Bertrand Trahan – Age 54 of Crowley, LA
- Moriah Edwards – Age 29 of Lake Charles, LA
- Joneisha Dunn – Age 23 of Baton Rouge, LA
- Olivia Day – Age 43 of Bunkie, LA
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates two main problems: provider billing fraud and abuse or neglect of patients in care facilities. The Unit accepts referrals from federal partners, state health agencies, and local complaints, then pursues criminal charges where evidence supports prosecution.
Since taking office, Murrill’s team says it has indicted, arrested, or charged 95 people for program-related offenses tied to Medicaid and residential care. Those efforts, the office says, are aimed at both recovering money and deterring future fraud.
She has also secured 105 convictions and over $73 million in ordered restitution. Those totals reflect prosecutions across a range of cases and show the fiscal impact one concentrated enforcement unit can achieve.
“I will not stop until the people’s money is returned and those who break the law face Louisiana justice. The men and women of Louisiana get up and go to work every single day to provide for their families. Their tax dollars are intended for those in need. Nothing is more offensive than those who manipulate the system for their own benefit,” said Attorney General Murrill.
Beyond provider cases, the broader Justice Department team has pursued recipient fraud as well, and the Attorney General’s office reports arrests of individuals who allegedly received benefits improperly. The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation assists by handling recipient fraud investigations on behalf of the state DOJ.
State health officials say program integrity reviews remain a frontline defense against waste. This year the Louisiana Department of Health reports it has reviewed thousands of provider and beneficiary complaints, identified millions in overpayments and penalties, and removed more than one hundred providers from participation for misconduct.
Leadership changes accompany the structural upgrade: Matt Stafford, who led the previous unit, has been promoted to director of the new division. Officials framed the promotion as part of a broader commitment to sharpen enforcement and protect taxpayers.
Authorities link the arrests and the new division to a nationwide push to crack down on Medicaid fraud, with federal and state leaders coordinating tougher measures. Recent national announcements describe an intensified campaign against fraud, and Louisiana officials say they are working alongside those efforts.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s budget mix also matters: the office receives federal grant funding for most of its budget while the state contributes the remainder. For the current fiscal cycle, the unit’s award totals $10,000,340 in federal funds, with $3,333,443 furnished by Louisiana to cover the 25 percent match.
