Attorney General's News Release

October 13, 1999

Second licensed clinical social worker faces charges in Pulaski County for alleged stealing, Medicaid fraud

Waynesville, Mo. — For the second time in two weeks, Attorney General Jay Nixon and Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Michael V. Headrick have filed criminal charges against a licensed clinical social worker in connection with alleged Medicaid fraud. Melody J. Carter (DOB - 8/14/61) was arrested today on the charges and is being held on $40,000 bond.

Carter, whose home address is in St. Robert and business address is in Waynesville, faces eight felony counts, including four counts of stealing by deceit and four counts of making a false statement to receive a health care payment. The charges allege that over a period from June 1998 to June 1999, Carter falsely represented to the state Medicaid program that she had provided psychological counseling services in order to receive payment for those services.

An affidavit filed with the criminal complaint alleges that on four separate occasions Carter was out of town including trips to New Mexico and Alaska on dates she billed the Medicaid program for services to clients in Pulaski County.

The four counts of stealing by deceit are class C felonies under Missouri law, each punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The four counts of making a false statement to receive a health care payment are class D felonies, each punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The charges against Carter are merely accusations, and, as in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven otherwise in a court of law.

Carter is the second licensed clinical social worker to face recent criminal charges related to allegations of Medicaid fraud in Pulaski County. On Sept. 29, Nixon and Headrick filed a nine-count felony complaint against licensed clinical social worker Gloria Bell-Wisdom, of Rolla, for allegedly overbilling the state's Medicaid program and failing to pay state income taxes in 1996 and 1997. Her preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818