Attorney General's News Release

August 21, 2006

Louisiana pharmacist found guilty of Medicaid fraud and stealing on charges brought by Nixon

Bowling Green, Mo. — A Pike County jury on Friday returned guilty verdicts on 28 counts of Medicaid fraud and stealing against a Lousiana, Mo. pharmacist and his business for billing Medicaid for thousands of dollars in medical prescriptions that were never filled. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of Attorney General Jay Nixon's office prosecuted the charges against Jeffrey C. Barnes (DOB 1/24/58), and his company Jeff Barnes Inc. d.b.a. Best Buy Pharmacy of Louisiana.

The jury reached guilty verdicts on all 28 counts, including one count of stealing by deceit and 13 counts of Medicaid fraud against both Jeffrey Barnes and his corporation. The jury recommended Barnes serve one year in jail on the felony stealing conviction and fines on all counts. Sentencing in front of Judge Dan Dildine is set for Oct. 10.

Nixon says that between January 2003 and January 2004, Barnes defrauded Medicaid program funds of at least $20,000 in value by billing the program for prescriptions that were never filled or even prescribed by a doctor. Investigators with Nixon's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit interviewed numerous physicians who had no record of having prescribed medications and individuals who never received the drugs even though Barnes and Best Buy Pharmacy of Louisiana billed for dispensing the medications.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General's Office has authority under state law to investigate and prosecute, both civilly and criminally, allegations of fraud against Missouri's Medicaid program.

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 the Press Secretary.

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