ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES COOK COUNTY MAN WITH THEFT OF OVER $800,000 IN MEDICAID FUNDING

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES COOK COUNTY MAN WITH THEFT OF OVER $800,000 IN MEDICAID FUNDING

June 10, 2026

Leeda Services Business Owner Billed for Hours Not Worked

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged an Evanston man with defrauding the state out of more than $800,000 by billing the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Supported Employment Program (SEP) for service hours that were not performed.

The Attorney General's office charged Edward "Ted" Anderson, 58, in Cook County Circuit Court with two counts of theft of government property of more than $100,000, Class X felonies punishable by up to 30 years in prison; one count of vendor fraud, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison; and one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Anderson's next court date is July 23.

"The state's Supported Employment Program provides critical support to individuals with disabilities so they can live within a residential community setting that provides personal support services and individualized residential habilitation," Raoul said. "We will not tolerate abuse of this important program, and I appreciate our continued collaboration with the Illinois Departments of Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services as we seek to hold these individuals accountable."

Anderson was the president and owner of several Community Integrated Living Arrangement homes known as Leeda Services of Illinois Inc, which is responsible for assuring the delivery of community based mental health, substance abuse, and/or behavioral health services for individuals with disabilities. Attorney General Raoul's office alleges that between May 2020 and February 2023, Anderson fraudulently submitted billable SEP hours to DHS-DDD for payment for hours not actually worked. Raoul alleges Anderson was paid $813,110 for these hours.

The Attorney General's office is prosecuting this case following a referral by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services' Office of Inspector General (HFS-OIG) and an investigation by Raoul's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

"HFS-OIG remains dedicated to bringing cases such as this to the Attorney General's Office," said HFS Inspector General Brian Dunn. "This work demonstrates our unwavering commitment to maintaining the integrity of Illinois Medicaid for the individuals who rely on it."

The public is reminded the defendant is 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.

Deputy Chiefs Steven Krueger and Melissa Taormina Guske are prosecuting the case for Raoul's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.