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Two charged with TennCare fraud
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A Van Buren County grand jury has charged two women with TennCare fraud related to allegedly selling prescription drugs paid for by TennCare.The Office of Inspector General has announced the arrest of Dana Yearwood, 27, and Crystal Lee Dillon, 31, both from Spencer. The arrests are the result of a joint effort with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office and Spencer Police Department.Yearwood is charged with two counts of delivery of an amphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance, and one count of TennCare fraud for fraudulent abuse of TennCare benefits.Dillon is charged with one count of delivery of the pain reliever Oxycocone, a schedule II controlled substance, one count of delivery of another pain medication, Hydrocodone, which is a schedule III controlled substance and one count of TennCare fraud.“Enrollees who participate in selling drugs paid for by TennCare – and those who buy them – should understand this is a serious crime we intend to prosecute,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said.District Attorney General Liza Zavogiannis is prosecuting. TennCare fraud is a Class E felony that carries up to a two-year sentence.The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $173 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures.