Alleged fraud ring busted; purported leader reportedly used funds for used car business

FLORIDA —The alleged leader of a Florida fraud ring that reportedly stole millions of dollars from Medicare has been arrested.

Attorney General Ashley Moody announced last week that her Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) shut down the alleged fraud ring that she said stole more than $3 million from Florida taxpayers.

The MFCU, with the assistance of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, arrested Clive McIntosh, the alleged ringleader, and Tymeka Hester, McIntosh’s alleged accomplice, on charges of racketeering, Medicaid fraud, money laundering, and scheme to defraud, Moody said.

According to the investigation by MFCU, McIntosh is alleged to have recruited Medicaid providers, like Hester, to enroll in Medicaid and then used the providers’ individual numbers to fraudulently bill for services not rendered.

The scheme ultimately defrauded the taxpayer-funded program out of more than $3.5 million, Moody said.

“In just two years’ time, the defendants stole more than $3.5 million from the Medicaid program—ripping off Florida taxpayers,” said Moody.

“Their elaborate fraudulent billing scheme, which also involved money laundering, spanned multiple counties until my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigators, working with local and federal law enforcement agencies, shut it down. Now the defendants will face my Statewide Prosecutors to answer for their crimes.”

MFCU began its investigation upon receiving information provided by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. The investigation reportedly revealed McIntosh recruited respiratory therapists to enroll in Medicaid and give McIntosh the provider numbers to fraudulently bill Medicaid.

In 2018, McIntosh is alleged to have recruited Hester to join the scheme. From 2018-2020, Hester purportedly worked for McIntosh, billing for services never rendered for McIntosh.

According to Moody, Hester is not McIntosh’s first recruit. In 2014, McIntosh allegedly recruited James Tenpenny to become a Medicaid provider so that McIntosh could use Tenpenny’s Medicaid number to fraudulently bill for services.

The Clearwater Police Department arrested Tenpenny last year, and he is currently facing charges for Medicaid fraud and scheme to defraud in Pinellas County for participating in the alleged criminal enterprise.

Due to the alleged scheme, from June 2018 to August 2020, McIntosh and accomplices caused more than $3.5 million to be paid out for services not rendered as billed, said Moody.

In return for allowing McIntosh to use their provider numbers, Tenpenny and Hester allegedly received financial kickbacks. McIntosh used the fraudulent Medicaid funds to purchase vehicles and opened a used-car business in Fort Lauderdale and Fort Pierce, Moody said.

McIntosh has been charged with one count of RICO, one count of Medicaid fraud more than $50,000, and one count of money laundering—all first-degree felonies. If convicted, he faces up to 90 years in prison and $30,000 in fines.

MFCU, with the assistance of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Hester and charged her with one count of Medicaid fraud more than $50,000 and one count of scheme to defraud—both first-degree felonies.

If convicted, Hester faces up to 60 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.

Both cases will be prosecuted by Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.