TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Division
of Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni,
announced that a Union County minister was
named Wednesday in a Union County Grand Jury
indictment for his role in defrauding the
Medicaid Program.
Kevin Clark, 52, the pastor of Bethel Baptist
Church located in Westfield, was charged with
two counts of third degree Medicaid Fraud.
Under state law, the crime of third degree
Medicaid Fraud carries a maximum punishment
of three years in state prison and a criminal
fine of $10,000. Clark will be ordered to
appear in Superior Court in Union County to
answer the charges on a date to be determined.
According to Gramiccioni, the indictment returned
by the State Grand Jury alleges that on or
about November 17, 2004, and April 7, 2005,
Clark completed, signed and submitted a Medicaid
application on behalf of an elderly parishioner,
containing false information concerning the
disposition of property valued at approximately
$183,038 in which the Medicaid applicant had
an interest.
The investigation into this matter was conducted
by the Division of Criminal Justice’s
Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s
Patient Protection Unit of the Medicaid Fraud
Control Unit, which investigates and prosecutes
both civil and criminal Medicaid fraud related
cases.
The Medicaid Program, which is funded by the
state and federal governments, provides health
care services and prescription drugs to persons
who may not otherwise be able to afford such
services and medicines. The State of New Jersey
administers the Medicaid Program through the
Division of Medical Assistance and Health
Services.
Detective Patricia Yellen and Deputy Attorney
General Yvette Gibbons of the Patient Protection
Unit were assigned to the investigation into
this case. DAG Gibbons represented the State
before the Union County Grand Jury.
“Abuse
of the Medicaid Program is a particularly
disturbing crime,” said Gramiccioni.
“Not only do such Medicaid fraud schemes
involve theft of tax dollars, they also represent
a theft from a program designed to assist
persons who can not afford health insurance
or health care services. Such cases are a
priority for the Office of the Insurance Fraud
Prosecutor.”
The indictment, which was handed up on June
24, is merely an accusation. The defendant
is presumed to be innocent unless and until
proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Information about a fraud can be reported
anonymously by calling the Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD,
or visiting the Web site at www.NJInsurancefraud.org
.” State regulations permit a reward
to be paid to an eligible person who provides
information that leads to an arrest, prosecution
and conviction for insurance fraud.
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