Medicaid fraud: Middletown, Dayton women accused of ‘phantom billing’

ajc.com

A Middletown woman and a Dayton woman are among seven Medicaid providers accused of phantom billing, or charging for services that were never provided.

Carrie E. Francis, 46, of Dayton, and Cynthia Lange, 55, of Middletown are facing one count of Medicaid fraud in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Francis was also charged with theft.

She participated in a kickback scheme and received $2,613, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

From May 2024 through April 2025, Lange allegedly billed for in-home services while the patients were receiving care from outside programming or from family members.

She charged Medicaid $34,028, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the cases. The team works with local, state and federal partners to find Medicaid fraud and protect vulnerable adults.

Others charged in the investigation include: Daylene Curtis, 41, of Zanesville; Asia Drakeford, 30 of Columbus; Michael Makeba, 53, of Westerville; Andrea Turpin, 43, of Blacklick; and Laquandra Williams, 37, of Cleveland.

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