Attorney General Hanaway Charges 17 Defendants in Statewide Medicaid Fraud Enforcement Representing Over $450,000 in Stolen Taxpayer Funds

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced felony charges against 17 defendants in Medicaid fraud cases involving more than $450,000 in illegal schemes across Missouri. The cases allege a range of fraud involving identity theft, personal care attendant (PCA) fraud, and adult daycare billing abuses that diverted taxpayer funds intended for vulnerable Missourians.

“Anyone who tries to exploit Missouri’s Medicaid program should understand that we will investigate, we will charge, and we will pursue full restitution for the public. Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is a powerhouse team that continues to cut off fraud at the source, return stolen funds to taxpayers, and protect services for those who truly need them,” said General Hanaway.

The following defendants allegedly defrauded Missouri public assistance programs to line their own pockets:

Check-Splitting Kickback Scheme Stole Funds while Provider was Hospitalized, Travelling Internationally
Tania Bonilla, working with Jose Jones, Basilio Delgado Munoz, and Henry Price, orchestrated nearly three years of fraudulent billing through Jones’s company, Harmony at Home, representing $70,864.15 for services Bonilla did not provide. Airline records place Bonilla out of state, and even out of the country, and investigators found that the company billed on days Bonilla was hospitalized, including when she was giving birth.

Caregivers Steal Identity to Siphon Medicaid Funds
Cartessie Johnson and Ulysses Calloway stole Kathleen White’s identity, enrolled her on paper as their caregiver, and then clocked her in and out by phone for hundreds of shifts she never worked, leading to $44,783.17 on Johnson’s claims and $26,495.43 on Calloway’s. Investigators interviewed White as Johnson was actively clocking her in, and White said she’d never met either defendant. Defendants frequently used stolen funds for personal expenses, including purchases at a pawn shop. The Attorney General’s Office has also charged both defendants with identity theft.

Adult Daycare Owner Charges for Patients Not Present
Kimberly Brown, owner of Divine Purpose Adult Daycare and later Care Professionals, billed for adult day care services after a client was injured in a crash in the facility van and stopped attending, submitting 98 fraudulent dates and collecting $8,711.68 for that client alone. Brown’s companies also billed when multiple clients were hospitalized or at medical appointments, submitted claims for hours exceeding attendance logs, and billed while clients were receiving services elsewhere. Brown’s actions represent $53,057.36 in stolen funds.

Banned Caregiver and Associate Faked Services While Client’s Condition Worsened
Maci Legrand was barred from serving as a caregiver after her Good Cause Waiver was denied due to her criminal history. She then enlisted her friend Christal Calhoun to pose as the official attendant on paper while they split $27,743.76 in Medicaid payments for care that was not provided as claimed. Calhoun claimed to provide services to a Medicaid recipient who showed up to the hospital disheveled and soiled, and was diagnosed with cellulitis following supposed care.

All defendants charged in today’s action are listed by region below:

St. Louis Region

• Cherrell Robinson charged for false claims totaling $125,169.41
• Tania Bonilla, Jose Jones, Basilio Delgado Munoz, and Henry Price charged for false claims totaling $70,864.15
• Kimberly Brown charged for false claims totaling $53,057.36
• Mercedes Hodges charged for false claims totaling $6,658.73

Kansas City Region

• Kathleen Sells and Aaron Sells charged for false claims totaling $38,257.69
• Sheila Taliferro charged for false claims totaling $15,942.42
• Joyce Burnham charged for false claims totaling $4,299.06
• David Smith charged for false claims totaling $3,749.91

Springfield Region

• Cartessie Johnson charged for false claims totaling $44,783.17
• Ulysses Calloway charged for false claims totaling $26,495.43

Southeast Missouri Region

• Maci Legrand and Christal Calhoun charged for false claims totaling $27,743.26
• Gwen Fennell charged for false claims totaling $4,848.21

General Hanaway has requested a total of $454,328.71 in restitution for these stolen Medicaid funds.

“We’re incredibly proud of the dedicated work our Missouri Medicaid Audit & Compliance Unit has done to assist in uncovering and stopping Medicaid fraud in Missouri,” said Director Jess Bax, Missouri Department of Social Services. “Protecting these vital public resources is essential, and today’s cases reflect the State’s continued commitment to ensuring Medicaid funds are used appropriately for the people who depend on them. We’re grateful for the strong partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and for the collective efforts that make this work possible.”

“These charges reflect meticulous investigative work, legal preparation, and coordination with our state partners. We will continue to build strong, fact-driven cases that hold offenders accountable and put stolen money back into the programs that need it,” said Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Chief Counsel Arvids V. Petersons.

The Attorney General’s Office extends appreciation to Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson, Missouri Department of Social Services Medicaid Audit & Compliance, and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Office of Special Investigations for critical referrals and collaboration that advanced these matters. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General John McKenzie and Lucas Chapman, with investigative work conducted by Jaime Migogo, Taylor Walls, Lenzie Woodling, Sarah Oliver, Jacki Morrow‑Kloeppel, Josh King, Candy Trusty, Chelsea Schnieders, and Robert McMahan.

General Hanaway also extends her appreciation to Missourians who reach out to the Attorney General’s Office when they suspect fraud. Their help is crucial in our ongoing fraud-fighting efforts. The Attorney General’s Office reminds the public that the allegations against defendants are subject to proof, and as in all criminal cases, the defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office investigates allegations of fraud committed by Medicaid providers and will prosecute allegations of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation in Medicaid-funded facilities. The Unit is comprised of prosecutors, investigators, and support staff. The Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $3,551,892.00 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2026. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,183,960.00 for FY 2026, is funded by Missouri.

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