Former Washington Park Trustee And St. Clair County Probation Officer Pleads Guilty To Health Care Fraud

Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on November 8, 2013, Darron A. Suggs, 39, of Washington Park, Illinois, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging that he engaged in a scheme to commit health care fraud. Sentencing has been set for March 14, 2014, in United States District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois. At that time, Suggs will face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release.

During his plea hearing, Suggs admitted that he had submitted false and fraudulent bills in relation to his alleged performance of personal assistant services in the Home Services Program, a Medicaid Waiver Program designed to allow individuals to stay in their homes instead of entering a nursing home. Suggs admitted to falsely billing the program between June 30, 2006 and April 16, 2013, when he purportedly rendered personal assistant services to two individuals when he, in fact, did not. Many times Suggs would just contact them by telephone. As a result, Suggs improperly received $64,867.00 in payments for services not performed.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Illinois State Police, Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William E. Coonan.

If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with healthcare laws or public aid programs, you may report this activity to the local office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, or you may call 1.800.447.8477.