mississippi state auditor investigations

White also said then that it was the welfare directors duty to reject improper requests from the governor, not the governors responsibility to know the rules and laws. Civil demands issued by the State Auditor include Davis and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. White at the time said that his office moved swiftly and without notifying or involving federal authorities so as to halt the scheme before any more money was misspent or stolen. When asked for comment about this alleged fraud, a Mississippi Division of Medicaid spokesperson said it was the divisions own investigators who originally caught the fraud. Asked about this, the auditor's office confirmed it was indeed investigating the matter on behalf of taxpayers. But in an October 2021 interview with Mississippi Today before the judge strengthened thegag order in the case to further restrict White the auditor said he had not seen instances of Bryant directing his welfare chief to spend federal money on specific programs. ", Johnson said the Mississippi state auditor's findings were referred to the Justice Department, "however, nearly two years later, despite the overwhelming documentary evidence of fraud, forgery, and abuse in this matter, DOJ has not yet launched a criminal investigation. Questions about if and when Whites office alerted other authorities to the text messages remain. endobj . The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Angel McIlraths office in the courtroom of Judge Kathy King Jackson. State Rep. Chris Bell (D) will serve as the new MLBC Chair as Sen. Angela Turner-Ford (D) chose not to seek the post for another term. White, a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), grew up in Sandersville, Mississippi, population 731, in a blue-collar family. JACKSON, Miss. Advertising Non-Discrimination Certification. The guilty plea was recorded in Judge J. Kelley Luthers courtroom. Shad went on to earn degrees from the University of Mississippi, <> PHOTO: US Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, April 1, 2022. In 2021 an investigation into PBMS resulted in a $55 million settlement, OSA said. The NAACP's Johnson said in his letter, "these apparent crimes were ignored by DOJ under your predecessor Attorney General, and we are calling on you to take action that is long overdue. Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. Prior to becoming Auditor, White served as a special prosecutor, won ethics cases against politicians who broke Federal authorities and internal investigators at Mississippi Department of Human Services eventually began investigating the subgrantee, 100 Black Men of Jackson, an agency spokesperson told Mississippi Today on Tuesday. P.O. MDEQ is the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. 4 0 obj At least two Mississippi Medicaid recipients are making six figures and living in million-dollar homes, according to State Auditor Shad White, and he wants legislators to strengthen Medicaid investigators powers as a result. Mississippi Department of Human Services Executive Director Bob Anderson says though the State Auditor issued civil demands to eleven individuals and groups earlier this week, the agency will continue working with former U.S. Attorney Brad Piggot on the criminal investigation. Millions of dollars from the Mississippi Department of Human Services were misspent for personal use by grant recipients, on family members and friends of staffers, according to an audit released by State Auditor Shad White. The state auditor and Hinds County district attorney charged six people in early 2020, and four have pleaded guilty to the state charges - some as serious as bribery and racketeering. Stephanie Churchill Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement JACKSON, Miss. The NAACP called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate years of allegations of widespread welfare fraud and misspending in Mississippi totaling over $94 million, according to a letter obtained exclusively by ABC News. I dont vote on claims for several reasons, he said. She also received first place in the regional Green Eyeshade Awards in 2021 for Public Service in Online Journalism and 2020 for Business Reporting, and the local Bill Minor Prize for Investigative Journalism in 2019 and 2018 for reporting on unfair medical billing practices and hunger in the Mississippi Delta. Auditors were able to find the fraud by examining the beneficiaries state income tax returns and comparing them to the income listed on their applications, according to the report. Six people have been indicted on state charges in the case. Today State Auditor Shad White announced former Coahoma Community College employees Gwendolyn Jefferson and Stacie Neal were each sentenced to serve five years in prison. Internships The total demand amount$1,991,774.10includes interest and investigative costs. On the weekends, his father was An attorney for Davis did not respond to ABC News' request for comment. We prefer Author Name, Mississippi Today in the byline. We continue to protect the publics trust through evaluations of accounting practices and aggressive investigations of alleged wrongdoing. Most of the misappropriated funds are alleged to have been stolen through a now-dissolved anti-poverty program called Families First for Mississippi, co-operated by the Mississippi Community Education Center, according to the audit. The charges are one count of embezzlement, three counts of false representations to defraud the government, and one count of alteration of records. DHS hired a firm to conduct a forensic audit to detail how millions of dollars meant to help the poor in Mississippi were misused under former Executive Director John Davis. The new law increases the statute of limitations on bribery from three years to five years. On Thursday, the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor (OSA) announced last months return of $63,660.90 to public coffers. <> A few agreed to talk with them, quite a few just never responded.. Jacksons contract with Richards expired on March 31. A review of invoices showed Mississippi'sMedicaid service was being charged more thanthe contractually allowed price capsfor certain drugs and services. The fraud allegations were first revealed in 2020 by state prosecutors in one of the largest cases involving embezzlement claims in state history. But Bryants responsibility in directly supervising his welfare department director and the fact that some of the taxpayer money flowed to people and programs favored by the former governor are notably missing from his extensive audit report. The guilty pleas were recorded in Judge Charles E. Websters courtroom today. Our investigators have proven we will take on the biggest cases down to the smallest to protect taxpayer dollars, said Auditor White. Hes also claimed the auditors are liars despite clear documentary evidence showing he benefitted from misspent funds. 8 0 obj Phil Bryant's own words about his role in the state's welfare fraud scandal are a great understatement.. And now at the three-year mark since investigators began nibbling at the edges of what state Auditor Shad White has called the largest public fraud case in state history, things still don't look good. It was valuable work that helped us resolve a potential stop of picking up of garbage.. Today State Auditor Shad White announced Jonathan Smith, a former employee of Jackson County, has been convicted of two counts of embezzlement. The total amount of disallowed expenditures, he says, was $7,764.50, for which no payments have been received. Mississippi Division of Medicaid investigators dont have the regulatory power to review tax returns themselves, something White said should change. BX)4}um[69iI`1F@mlW|!=/ Today Shad, his wife Rina and their children live in Rankin County and are faithful members at St. Richard Church. The state auditor "chose to disclose information that the division of Medicaid provided related to the divisions ongoing investigation of potential beneficiary fraud, which was caught by our internal controls, Matt Westerfield, a spokesperson for the agency, wrote in an email. Voting along with him were Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley and Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks. The panel was held at Germantown High School and comes after Auditor White issued an August 2022 report showing the societal and economic costs of fatherlessness in Mississippi. The questionable funds included $5 million for a lease agreement for a multi-purpose wellness center that would later become a volleyball stadium, $635,000 for a virtual reality lab that included individuals who weren't identified as needy and $44,000 to retired professional football players for football camps that focused on student-athletes and did not address helping at-risk youth. If youre not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and include our website, You cannot republish our editorial cartoons, photographs, illustrations or graphics without specific permission (contact our managing editor. The state's settlement with Centene provides a glimpse of what the UnitedHealth probe may center on. (WLBT) - More details are emerging about the state auditor's investigation into the Jackson City Council's legal expenses, as are accusations about what sparked the state's inquiry. Nancy New told The Clarion-Ledger in 2020, "I just have to say that I think there's a lot more information to come and we're just waiting our turn.". endobj All rights reserved. - Last week Governor Tate Reeves signed HB 405, a key piece of State Auditor Shad White's 2023 legislative agenda. JACKSON, Miss. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Those connections have helped cast doubt over the independence and rigor of the state welfare investigation led by White. The famed quarterback and Mississippi native received $1.1 million in funds from a nonprofit whose . Mississippi is one of several states probing the billing practices of its pharmacy benefit managers. NAACP President Derrick Johnson called on the Department of Justice "to aggressively investigate and prosecute those responsible for the massive theft of federal funds that apparently took place in Mississippi in fiscal years 2017 through 2019." Attorneys fees pulled from Jackson claims docket due to auditors investigation, Truck possibly connected to Hinds County jail escape found in Newton County, Teen arrested after two dead, four others injured in Bay St. Louis shooting, Paraplegic fisherman speaks to Beulah Baptist Church, Eleven players with Mississippi ties selected in 2023 NFL Draft, City of Byram awarded thousands of state dollars for infrastructure projects, Belhaven football puts a smile on the face of little girl, First Alert Forecast: mild breezes Monday; rain, storm chances return late week, Request a First Alert Weather School Visit. Email Anne: anne@magnoliatribune.com. 8d In a text message Tuesday afternoon, Scanlon also addressed the discrepancy mentioned by Williamson, saying the companys engagement letter with the city clearly lays out the rate for Senior Partner Jerry Mills. Published in April 2022, the explosive investigation exposed corruption in Mississippi's dysfunctional welfare system, which deprived the poorest US state of millions of federal dollars that was intended to address widespread poverty. Updated: Jul 27, 2021 / 01:43 PM CDT. Bryant was actually the whistleblower who prompted the auditors office investigation. Bryant has since acknowledged that the content of his messages doesnt look good, but while the auditors office has possessed the records for over two years, it concealed them from the public and has not made any indication it has further investigated the matter. Deputy Director, Criminal Investigations Division: Mississippi, USA bxxxxxd@osa.ms.gov: Fletcher Freeman: Deputy Director Of Communications: Mississippi, USA . The email, along with a memo interpreting state law regarding the hiring of outside attorneys, was sent to the mayor and council just days before the two parties were expected to appear before Judge David Clark in Hinds County Chancery Court. You get those complaints that come in, and its what did you know and when did you know it. But you need to know that you have advocates who are standing up for you, and this is not going to be allowed and it's stopping right now.". The new law increases the statute of limitations on bribery from three years to five years. This represented the largest civil settlement resulting from a State Auditors investigation in the history of the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. You can call him at 601-559-3857, send it to LSanderlin@gannett.com or message him on Twitter @LeeOSanderlin. B|?uo. Instead, White has credited Bryant as the whistle blower who prompted his investigation, and said that it was Bryants welfare directors responsibility to know the law and refuse any improper directives from the governor. manager, for charging Medicaid more than the allowed price cap. Continue Reading, JACKSON, Miss. In its annual single-audit report an audit conducted on behalf of the federal government for the fiscal year ending in June 2020 the Office of the State Auditordetails how the Mississippi Division of Medicaid may be giving benefits to people who make too much money to qualify. New Mexico, Ohio, Georgia, Kansas and Arkansas are also investigating, according to the Wall Street Journal. He noted that "funds from these programs are to be used for the neediest and most vulnerable in our society.". The fight has resulted in at least eight lawsuits, including one that was settled last week. Management & Training Corporation failed to meet staffing obligations, putting staff and inmates at risk. Pender brings 30 years of political and government reporting experience to Mississippi Today. Anna Wolfe, a native of Tacoma, Wa., is an investigative reporter writing about poverty and economic justice. Jon Salem, who was fired from the council in August, said he was fired for bringing forward concerns that the council was misspending grant money, including those from local government. All others, we audit. Shad, youre welcome to use that.. State of Mississippi Bryant said at the time that he wanted someone with independence who did not have numerous political relationships and ties to the government officials and institutions he would be auditing. By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with Mississippi Today. Box 956 Phone: 601.576.2800 Jefferson and Neal were both arrested in June 2019. The spotlight on White has grown more intense in the wake of Mississippi Todays The Backchannel investigation, which showed Bryant using private texts to influence his welfare director and try to broker a deal with a pharmaceutical startup that enticed him with stock in the company. Job announcements include. White as auditor has burnished a reputation as a hard-charging defender of state tax dollars, and was credited with unmasking a massive scheme in the 2019 welfare scandal. As part of that settlement,the state had to agree Centene has provided "high quality" pharmacy benefit services to the state, and the company did not admit any fault. Anderson tells us it is ultimately going to be the discretion of the feds to determine who is culpable in this case. 2023 Magnolia Tribune. His father and grandfather were oilfield pumpers, and his mother and grandmother were public school teachers. Commenting on the indictments, State Auditor Stacey Pickering said, "It is a very sad day in Mississippi when two men with a history of public service are charged with blatantly committing crimes to increase their personal fortunes. %PDF-1.5 {R)cLS&X?AIF'N3j Mississippi Office of the State Auditor | 1,098 followers on LinkedIn. 9 0 obj Today State Auditor Shad White announced former Hancock County Coroner James Faulk has been indicted on multiple charges. In 2019, State Auditor Shad White launched an investigation into the PBM serving the states Medicaid program. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File - Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. State Auditor Shad White has named Larry Ware as the new Director of Investigations. 3 0 obj The agency notified the city on April 5, urging leaders to reimplement residential collections, saying the temporary drop-off sites were not adequate to handle the citys needs. The rule that I lived by was if there is any question whatsoever, dont do it, said Pete Johnson, who served as state auditor from 1988-1992, and ran unsuccessfully for governor, losing to Kirk Fordice in the Republican primary in 1991. JACKSON, Miss. In a sampling of 180 benefit recipients, the auditors office found nine examples of people making too much money to qualify for Medicaid benefits. Mississippi State Auditor Shad White is demanding that Management and Training Corporation pay back some of . White said in a 2020 press conference the case was the "most egregious misspending my staff have seen in their careers at the Office of the State Auditor." Continue Reading, P.O. Legislative Update Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Both lawsuits say the legislation - HB 1020 - disenfranchises black Jacksonians and infringes on their rights as citizens. In June, the state announced it reached a $55.5 million settlement with Centene, its largest Medicaid contractor,following a yearslong investigation into whether the company overcharged Medicaidfor prescription drugs. Legislative Update These exceptions involved miscellaneous, disallowed expenditures by chancery clerks and circuit clerks and are recorded as paid in full and settled to the appropriate fund directly.'. JACKSON, Miss. But White did not reveal that storyline to the public. State of Mississippi You can call him at 601-559-3857, send it to LSanderlin@gannett.com or message him on Twitter @LeeOSanderlin. NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson speaks onstage during the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Colors Behind the Look: a Celebration of Fashion, Costume Design and Glam Event in Los Angeles, Feb. 25, 2022. It wasnt until MDEQ released their notice of violation to us that an emergency could come pursuant to that notice.. Jackson, MS 39205-0956 Foote was one of three members that voted down the claims docket out of protest to the item being removed. DpTJ In this May 4, 2017, file photo, Nancy New, owner and Director of the Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC) and New Learning, Inc., is shown at a social function in Jackson, Miss. JACKSON, Miss. We center readers in everything we do, informingand engagingMississippians through reporting, podcasts, events and online communities. The council had refused to pay Richards because it never approved a contract. His trial, which was supposed to start last year, has been delayed several times. "We have an incredible team of professionals in the Investigations division, doing some of the most important white-collar crime work in . JACKSON, Miss. The investigation could include names not already released in civil complaints issued this week by State Auditor Shad White. Anderson said, Our counsel, Mr. Piggot, has already been reaching out to a number of them inviting them to come sit down and talk with us and tell their side of the story. The Office of the State Auditor continues to serve as a watchdog organization to ensure that tax dollars are protected, and we pledge to perform our jobs with integrity, honesty and a commitment to excellence, White continued. The charges are one count of embezzlement, three counts of false representations to. At this time, MDHS has no plans to change our engagement with Mr. Piggot in assisting with the continued investigation of the misuse of TANF funds. In its report, the auditors office found two people who were receiving benefits despite reporting six-figure incomes on their state taxes. Two top advocacy groups are accusing Mississippi State Auditor Shad White of misleading Mississippians with a report claiming that up to 5% of Mississippians receiving Medicaid do so fraudulently.White announced in a statement on Tuesday that his office had discovered that the Mississippi Division of Medicaid was "potentially handing out millions to ineligible people." Several individuals in the case have accepted plea deals including former professional wrestler Brett DiBiase, who pleaded guilty in 2020 to a single count of making fraudulent statements for the purpose of defrauding the government. [ @5 Y02YUU (s %I ea ) }Pr"aTH6 xRN That wasnt a part of the thinking or the conversation., Lumumba told members the auditor later raised questions about the citys legal expenses, but the investigation was not initiated by his office. If legislators granted the Mississippi Division of Medicaid the ability to review income tax records as part of determining an applicant's eligibility, the agency could cut down on potential fraud, White said. <>>> Just as in the forensic audit you saw the auditors reached out to a number of people.

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