What We Know: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced charges against 24 defendants accused of stealing more than $613,000 from the state’s Medicaid program.
The charges are part of ongoing investigations by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which works to uncover fraud involving taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.
“Our office is putting fraudsters on notice,” Hanaway said. “If you steal from Missouri Medicaid, we will find you and hold you accountable.”
What It Means: The AG’s office says it’s the largest case involving Chontell Wilkes and Sandra Wilkes of St. Louis, owners of Smiles Adult Day Care.
Investigators allege the pair submitted more than 1,400 false Medicaid claims for services that were never provided, collecting more than $121,000.
Authorities also allege they asked Medicaid recipients to sign fraudulent attendance sheets.
In another case, Michelle Terry of St. Peters is accused of submitting nearly 1,000 false claims for adult day care services, resulting in payments of more than $114,000.
What’s Next: Investigators also charged Darcee Heath of Linn Creek with forgery and fraud after alleging she used fake nursing credentials to obtain jobs at three healthcare facilities.
Other cases announced involve alleged false billing, financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, and fraudulent claims for in-home care services.
One defendant is accused of collecting Medicaid payments while claiming to care for his grandmother, as she was hospitalized in a rehabilitation facility.
Since the start of 2026, Hanaway’s office has charged 31 defendants in Medicaid fraud cases. The office says it has also secured 11 convictions and recovered more than $1.2 million through court orders and civil settlements.
Officials emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
(Courtesy of Missouri Attorney General’s Office)