Feds charge Ohio fraudsters with stealing $30M meant for behavioral health program to buy luxury cars

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Federal officials busted a gang of Ohio fraudsters for swiping $30 million in taxpayer money meant for kids’ behavioral health services — but was instead spend on luxury cars and other fine items.At least four suspects — including two state employees — have been hit with 32 counts over the Medicaid fraud, while nearly $470,000 was seized from bank accounts linked to the defendants in addition to the the 14 vehicles bought with their allegedly ill-gotten gains.The tally included six Mercedes-Benz sedans, a Bentley, a Jaguar, a Maserati, a McLaren, a BMW, a GMC and two Land Rovers, all worth in excess of $800,000.Two of the defendants ran behavioral health services entities that were supposed to offer psychotherapy and other behavior services to kids or young adults enrolled in recreational programs, church groups or summer camps.All four conspired “to submit false and fraudulent claims for services that were medically unnecessary and not provided as represented,” according to the Department of Justice.One of the organizations had its credentials revoked by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services — but the defendants were still able to enter claims through other entities, per the DOJ.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters Thursday that Ohio officials helped the feds dismantle the “sophisticated Medicaid fraud scheme that exploited taxpayers to fund exotic cars and lavish lifestyles.”The Trump administration’s “war against fraud has come to the great state of Ohio — and this is a war that we will win,” Blanche added.The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), the FBI and Ohio’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit — touted as the “gold standard” for other states by Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson — all helped nab the suspects.Four others were also charged for defrauding $1.4 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans from the Small B...