FLORIDA — A Florida medical transport provider has been arrested for an alleged scheme to defraud Medicaid.
Sherell Breus, owner and operator of A-Time Transport LLC, located in Davenport, Florida, is accused of submitting false claims to the Medicaid program for more than 400 fake trips to medical appointments. Attorney General Ashley Moody said the alleged scheme reportedly caused more than $50,000 in Medicaid billings.
Breus faces one count of Medicaid fraud greater than $50,000 and one count of scheme to defraud greater than $50,000, both first-degree felonies. Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Breus on August 18.
“This defendant owned and operated a transportation service claiming to help Medicaid recipients get to and from their medical appointments,” said Moody.
“Instead of helping those in need, she ripped off Florida taxpayers and the Medicaid program by creating more than 400 fake trips to appointments and causing more than $50,000 in fraudulent billings—all to be deposited in her personal bank account.”
A-Time Transport is a Medical Transportation Management (MTM) subcontractor that coordinates transportation services for Medicaid recipients who need help getting to and from medical appointments.
According to the investigation, Breus called MTM as the alleged representative of a Medicaid recipient and scheduled transport appointments for the recipient. Breus then is alleged to have claimed those appointments as A-Time Transport, saying the company regularly provided transportation for the recipient from Tampa to Gainesville for appointments.
Breus billed MTM for these appointments, causing more than $50,000 in fraudulent billings, said Moody. Breus reportedly had the monies deposited into a personal bank account.
The alleged transportation services reportedly occurred over an eight-month period. However, during this time period, the Medicaid recipient was actually serving time on a criminal sentence in a work-release program in Fort Lauderdale, said Moody.
The investigation allegedly revealed Breus to be in a relationship with the recipient. Electronic ankle monitoring records reportedly confirmed it to be impossible for A-Time Transport to be driving the recipient for appointments in North and Central Florida. Monitoring records showed the recipient to be constantly within a 10-mile radius in South Florida, said Moody.
Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute this case.
