An Alabama woman is being forced to repay the state of Tennessee for Tenncare services and food stamps that she wasn't eligible for.
According to the Office of Inspector General, Shauntaye Mayo, 30, of Alabama, pleaded guilty to three counts of TennCare fraud, one count of theft of services and one count of food stamp fraud.
She's accused of lying about her residency and other things to become eligible for the benefits, which are open only to Tennessee residents. She was indicted in June of 2011.
She has been ordered to repay TennCare $23,430 and to repay $14,529 to DHS. She also received six years judicial diversion as a part of the sentencing.
Shauntaye's mother, Johnetta Mayo and her mother's sister, Leona Mayo, who was a DHS employee, were also charged in the case, for helping Shauntaye get enrolled in TennCare and the food stamp program, by making false statements and concealing certain facts that would have made her ineligible for both programs.
"We hope individuals with stealing on their mind get the message that the Office of Inspector General is serious about prosecuting TennCare fraud, especially those who are not residents of Tennessee," Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. "We will aggressively investigate these cases in order to stop this criminal activity and recover money owed to the state."
Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig and follow the prompts that read "Report TennCare Fraud."