ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL ANNOUNCES CHARGES IN FEDERAL, STATE HEALTHCARE FRAUD CRACKDOWN

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL ANNOUNCES CHARGES IN FEDERAL, STATE HEALTHCARE FRAUD CRACKDOWN

June 23, 2026

Chicago - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced charges against 17 defendants who stole state funds by defrauding the Medicaid program and other programs that provide crucial services to the state's most vulnerable residents.

Raoul's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated and is prosecuting the cases. The charges announced today are part of coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants across the country, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in healthcare fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm.

"We will not tolerate abuses of these lifesaving programs," Raoul said. "I remain committed to combating fraud as my office continues our longstanding collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement partners to hold those who would steal from the public accountable."

Raoul's office announced the following charges:

• Amro T. Abdel-Fattah, 45, of Lombard, Illinois was charged with two counts of theft of government property, two counts of theft, two counts of forgery, one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government property, one count of managed care fraud and one count of vendor fraud in connection with submitting over $1 million in false claims for pharmaceutical prescriptions.
• Mohammad Khamis, 57, of River Forest, Illinois was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government property. Khamis, a physician and owner of multiple pharmacies, employed pharmacist Abdel-Fattah. Raoul alleges that Khamis and Abdel-Fattah worked together to submit false claims for pharmaceutical prescriptions that were not filled or not legally prescribed. Raoul's office previously charged Khamis with six counts of theft, one count of money laundering, one count of managed healthcare fraud, one count of vendor fraud and two counts of forgery, alleging he fraudulently received over $1 million in Medicaid and Medicare payments for care and prescriptions he did not render to Medicaid and Medicare patients.
• Ezgi Abik, 54, of La Grange Park, Illinois, was charged with two counts of theft of governmental property, two counts of managed care fraud, two counts of theft and one count of forgery in connection with submitting false claims to Illinois' Medicaid Managed Care Programs for non-emergency medical transportation of Medicaid recipients. Raoul alleges that Abik, doing business as Alexis of Illinois, submitted claims for transportation services not rendered.
• Charles Berry, 46, of Chicago, was charged with one count of vendor fraud, one count of theft and one count of forgery in connection with submitting false time sheets to receive payments for personal services he did not render. Raoul alleges that Berry submitted false claims to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) for services provided under the Home Services Program. The program provides services to individuals with severe disabilities, allowing them to remain in their homes and live as independently as possible.
• Thomas W. Downing, 37, of Bloomington, Illinois, was charged with one count of vendor fraud, one count of theft and one count of forgery in connection with submitting false time sheets to receive payments for personal services he did not render. Raoul alleges that Downing submitted false claims to IDHS for services provided under the Home Services Program.
• Beverly Floyd Owens-Conner, 71, of Olympia Fields, Illinois, was charged with one count of vendor fraud, two counts of theft and one count of forgery in connection with submitting fraudulent time records to the Illinois Department on Aging, Community Care Program while working as a personal assistant. The program helps older adults who might otherwise need nursing home care to remain in their homes by providing in-home and community-based services. Raoul alleges that Owens-Conner submitted claims that overlap with dates and times the intended recipient of the services was hospitalized and later admitted to a long-term care facility.
• Sean T. Hodges, 59, of Collinsville, Illinois, was charged with two counts of theft, one count of managed healthcare fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit theft and forgery in connection with a personal assistant fraud scheme. Raoul alleges that Hodges conspired and executed a scheme to defraud an Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Program related to personal assistant services.
• Maurleena M. Hughes, 60, of St. Louis, was charged with two counts of theft, one count of managed healthcare fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit theft and forgery in connection with a personal assistant fraud scheme. Raoul alleges that Hughes conspired and executed a scheme to defraud an Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Program related to personal assistant services.
• Leona Isom, 26, of Sauk Village, Illinois, was charged with one count of vendor fraud, one count of theft and one count of forgery in connection with submitting false time sheets to receive payments for personal services she did not render. Raoul alleges that Isom submitted false claims to the IDHS.
• Donald C. Johnson, 50, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of theft, one count of vendor fraud and one count of forgery in connection with submitting fraudulent claims for in-home services under the IDHS' Home Services Program. Raoul alleges that Johnson submitted claims that overlap with dates and times the intended recipient of the services was admitted to a long-term care facility.
• Jesse L. Kempfer, 45, of Centralia, Illinois, was charged with two counts of theft, one count of managed healthcare fraud and one count of forgery in connection with a gas mileage reimbursement scheme. Raoul alleges that Kempfer knowingly delivered false documents related to gas mileage reimbursement for medical visits to defraud an Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Program.
• Defendant Brittany Lofton, 25, of Chicago, was charged with one count of vendor fraud, two counts of theft and one count of forgery in connection with submitting false time sheets to the IDHS to receive payment for services provided under the Home Services Program that she did not render. Raoul alleges that Johnson submitted claims that overlap with dates and times the intended recipient of the services was hospitalized.
• Kimberly Melgar, 31, of Cicero, Illinois, was charged with two counts of theft of governmental property, one count of vendor fraud and one count of forgery in connection with submitting false time sheets to receive payments for personal services she did not render. Raoul alleges that Melgar submitted false claims to the IDHS for services provided under the Home Services Program.
• David Mason, 61, of Downers Grove, Illinois, was charged with two counts of theft of governmental property, one count of vendor fraud and one count of forgery in connection with submitting false time sheets to the IDHS to receive payment for services provided under the Home Services Program that he did not render. Raoul alleges that Mason submitted claims that overlap with dates and times the intended recipient was a resident at a supported living facility.
• Nicole D. Snyder, 44, of Breese, Illinois, was charged with two counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person or person with a disability and two counts of theft in connection with exploiting an elderly and disabled individual. Raoul alleges that Snyder knowingly exerted unauthorized control over an individual's debit card for her own personal use.
• Brandy N. Strong, of Charleston, Missouri, was charged with one count of vendor fraud, one count of theft, one count of theft by deception, one count of forgery and one count of identity theft in connection with submitting false time sheets to receive payments for personal services he did not render. Raoul alleges that Strong submitted false claims to the IDHS for services provided under the Home Services Program.
• Shanty Svay, 41, of Glendale Heights, Illinois, was charged with two counts of theft of governmental property, one count of vendor fraud and one count of forgery in connection with submitting false time sheets to receive payments for personal services she did not render. Raoul alleges that Svay submitted false claims to the IDHS for services provided under the Home Services Program.

The public is reminded that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Raoul's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $12,584,776 for the federal government's 2026 fiscal year. The remaining 25%, totaling $4,194,923 for the federal government's 2026 fiscal year, is funded by the state of Illinois.