Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced that his office has been involved in the arrest of three individuals for separate cases regarding Medicaid fraud and elder abuse.
In the announcement Thursday, Tim Griffin said that 34-year-old Hanna Christmas of Hamburg, 28-year-old Ja’Layia J. McClendon of North Little Rock and 28-year-old Trey Franks of Jacksonville are now facing charges as a result to a recent Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigation.
“I congratulate the Special Agents in my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit on their recent arrests on separate abuse and Medicaid fraud cases. My office will continue to protect taxpayers from fraud and the elderly from abuse. I thank Special Agents Heath Nelson and Marcus Custer for their diligent investigations that led to these arrests. These cases will be prosecuted by my office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in cooperation with Sixth Judicial District Prosecutor Will Jones and 23rd Judicial District Prosecutor Chuck Graham,” Griffin said.
According to the release, Christmas surrendered herself to authorities on October 31st under the charge of felony Medicaid fraud. The statement said that she had billed Deermott, Hamburg and Lakeside school districts $5,490.72 for physical therapy services they were never provided.
Christmas has been booked into the Pulaski County Detention Facility on a $2,500 bond.
McClendon also surrendered herself to authorities on October 31st for the charge of felony abuse of an endangered or impaired person, officials said. The statement said that two witnesses saw McClendon strike an 82-year-old female at a Little Rock assisted living center. The elderly woman, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, was left with bruising on her face and forearm.
McClendon was booked into the Pulaski County Detention Facility on a $2,000 bond.
The Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office arrested Franks on October 31st for felony abuse of an endangered or impaired person. According to the statement, from September to October of 2023 there were five bank transfers totaling $1,086.26 that were made to Frank’s credit card account from the account of a woman in Cabot long-term care facility.
Franks was arrested in Little Rock and taken to the Lonoke County Detention Center.
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