mississippi state auditor investigations mississippi state auditor investigations

Anna Wolfe, a native of Tacoma, Wa., is an investigative reporter writing about poverty and economic justice. Shad White, the Mississippi state auditor, right, and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens discuss the auditor's office investigation about millions in federal money meant for the poor, in . 7 0 obj McGrew, Smith, Nancy New and Zach New have all pleaded not guilty, according to The Associated Press. Some instances of Medicaid fraud are more egregious than others. Mississippi's state auditor on Monday demanded a private prison operator pay nearly $2 million after the company improperly billed the state for thousands of prison guard shifts that were never actually worked. Shad went on to earn degrees from the University of Mississippi, The state auditor "chose to disclose information that the division of Medicaid provided related to the divisions ongoing investigation of potential beneficiary fraud, which was caught by our internal controls, Matt Westerfield, a spokesperson for the agency, wrote in an email. Council President Ashby Foote disagreed with the decision to pull the item, saying the city needs to pay its bills. A: The State Auditor's Office makes an arrest in the course of an investigation when a prosecutor, often a local district attorney, has secured an indictment against an individual. Continue Reading, JACKSON, Miss. State auditor talks about duties, current investigations. Today State Auditor Shad White announced Stephanie Churchill has pleaded guilty to embezzlement in Benton County Circuit Court. endobj Mississippi Office of the State Auditor NewsStatute of Limitations on Six people have been indicted on state charges in the case. The total amount of disallowed expenditures, he says, was $7,764.50, for which no payments have been received. We look forward to a swift recovery of these funds.. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Internships Jackson, MS 39205-0956 He previously served as an investigative reporter and political editor at the Sun Herald, where he was a member of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team for Hurricane Katrina coverage. We continue to protect the publics trust through evaluations of accounting practices and aggressive investigations of alleged wrongdoing. MDHS continues criminal investigation into misspent TANF funds, Former U.S. Attorney Brad Piggot is assisting with the investigation, Truck possibly connected to Hinds County jail escape found in Newton County, Teen arrested after two dead, four others injured in Bay St. Louis shooting, Paraplegic fisherman speaks to Beulah Baptist Church, Eleven players with Mississippi ties selected in 2023 NFL Draft, City of Byram awarded thousands of state dollars for infrastructure projects, Belhaven football puts a smile on the face of little girl, First Alert Forecast: mild breezes Monday; rain, storm chances return late week, Request a First Alert Weather School Visit, Advertising Non-Discrimination Certification. The text messages between Bryant, the owner of Prevacus and retired NFL star Brett Favre have been in the possession of the auditors office for more than two years. Pender brings 30 years of political and government reporting experience to Mississippi Today. What is the cost of Mississippi deciding not to expand Medicaid? But Bryants responsibility in directly supervising his welfare department director and the fact that some of the taxpayer money flowed to people and programs favored by the former governor are notably missing from his extensive audit report. Prior to making that move, she interned for a congressional office in Washington, D.C. and a multi-state government relations and public affairs firm in Jackson, Mississippi. One of the recipients of almost $1.1 million in welfare funds was former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who lives in Mississippi. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). The state auditor investigation division is responsible for the investigation of alleged or suspected violations of Mississippi law, including fraud and embezzlement by public officials related to . This represented the largest civil settlement resulting from a State Auditors investigation in the history of the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. Mississippi welfare scheme: Former state official pleads guilty in Last week Governor Tate Reeves signed HB 405, a key piece of State Auditor Shad Whites 2023 legislative agenda. <> These exceptions involved miscellaneous, disallowed expenditures by chancery clerks and circuit clerks and are recorded as paid in full and settled to the appropriate fund directly.'. 5 0 obj When asked for comment about this alleged fraud, a Mississippi Division of Medicaid spokesperson said it was the divisions own investigators who originally caught the fraud. by Geoff Pender and Anna Wolfe, Mississippi Today May 12, 2022, This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.. Mississippi has contracted with UnitedHealth, under the name UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi, for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, benefitssince 2017. With 176,000 Mississippians without healthcare, the state has chosen not to expand Medicaid. The NAACP called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate years of allegations of widespread welfare fraud and misspending in Mississippi totaling over $94 million, according to a letter obtained exclusively by ABC News. Toll Free: 1.800.321.1275, Contact Representatives for Favre did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. Whites relationship with Bryant goes back more than a decade. The Auditors demand accounts for nearly 12,000 unfilled mandatory shifts at the Marshall County facility from 2017 to 2020. endstream You can only publish select stories individually not as a collection. Continue Reading. Management & Training Corporation failed to meet staffing obligations, putting staff and inmates at risk. Hes also claimed the auditors are liars despite clear documentary evidence showing he benefitted from misspent funds. 9 0 obj White also faced questions early on and criticism from the U.S. Attorneys Office as to why he didnt promptly bring in federal authorities, who have massive investigative resources, particularly since the malfeasance involved federal tax dollars. Instead, the Mississippi Department of Human Services allowed well-connected people to fritter away tens of millions of welfare dollars from 2016 to 2019, according to the state auditor and state . Its mind-boggling that Mr. Favre wants to have a trial about that question. Since Auditor Shad White arrested Gov. It's unclear where any continuing federal or state investigations stand at the three-year mark. Alyssa Bass/Mississippi Today, Special to Clarion Ledger, an audit conducted on behalf of the federal government for the fiscal year ending in June 2020, a quarter of Mississippians receive Medicaid benefits, it reached a $55.5 million settlement with Centene, An investigation into whether UnitedHealth, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. White and numerous other officials have declined comment on the case for months citing a gag order from a state judge. Documents obtained by WLBT earlier this month showed Auditor Shad White had launched an inquiry into the councils legal expenses related to its nearly two-year-long battle with the mayor over garbage pickup. Attorneys for Nancy and Zach New did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News. It is ultimately going to be the discretion of the feds to determine who is culpable in this case.. White, a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), grew up in Sandersville, Mississippi, population 731, in a blue-collar family. Phil Bryant, Phil Bryant had his sights on a payout as welfare funds flowed to Brett Favre, Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. He also said that the letter of engagement with the firm in question included the $375 for when its senior partner participated. In there another agency that can investigate $2 million road? NAACP calls on Justice Department to investigate Mississippi welfare White has said that after his initial eight-month investigation and arrests, he has involved federal authorities and turned over everything his investigators have. It is the largest documented public embezzlement scheme in the history of the state. DHS audit shows 'egregious misspending,' Mississippi auditor says - WAPT Jv|,w\7"|L\M$E9VzT);2op)7=mi+uUv( wRP3LA3$H.~1q^T_JWN?yAKDMcJ.anLNm"'[:[^[kirKe(d)Cb 9,j\Vs?O'm=BcJ&i&#f9YmVpeo cU%&[ ^/^\"rH&uwoNu|"ROyVV[Ht&jwQ\=.Mut|qHr\la4#v/v 2cC.+:RBaGB]VJ7V To learn more about our cartoon syndication services. $V1\_wf^_W1obsY,(b>3*joxu9&x^?jxVf+,#?Yu_#po"iRxE4?Rh[V6tXHPI,:B59+Y T It would potentially be approving an unauthorized expenditure, said Williamson. Mississippi's auditor says $70 million in federal welfare funds went to Brett Favre, a sports complex and an ex-wrestler in a scandal that has rocked the poorest state. Anderson says MDHS will hold all appropriate parties accountable for fraud, waste, and abuse related to the federal block grant money. White said in a 2020 press conference the case was the "most egregious misspending my staff have seen in their careers at the Office of the State Auditor." Anna has received national recognition for her work, including the 2021 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, the 2021 Collier Prize for State Government Accountability, the 2021 John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting Award, the 2020 Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award and the February 2020 Sidney Award for reporting on Mississippis debtors prisons. The Deputy Director over the Investigations Division, or his/her designee, may be authorized by the State Auditor to meet in a closed session with a public body to discuss preliminary investigative findings, to give public officials notice of demands for recovery of public funds or [ @5 Y02YUU (s %I ea ) }Pr"aTH6 xRN Richards filed its first complaint against the mayor and council last summer for failing to pay the company for trash collection services. Indictment. An investigation into whether UnitedHealth is also wrongly charging the state's Medicaid program for prescription drugs is ongoing. The NAACP's Johnson said in his letter, "these apparent crimes were ignored by DOJ under your predecessor Attorney General, and we are calling on you to take action that is long overdue. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The auditor's office has been investigating several of the state's pharmacy benefit management contractors since 2019, after hiring Ridgeland-based law firm Liston & Deas on the state's. Phil Bryant. PBMS, pharmacy benefit managers, are companies that manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of drug programs like health insurance, Medicare, and the state Medicaid program. Founded in 2016 as the states first nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom, Mississippi Todays roots in Capitol coverage have grown to encompass a myriad of beats beyond politics and policy, including education, public health, justice, environment, equity, and, yes, sports. endobj See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Before joining the staff at Mississippi Today in September of 2018, Anna worked for three years at Clarion Ledger, Mississippis statewide daily newspaper. Legislative Update At the center of the state's UnitedHealth probe is OptumRX, a UnitedHealth subsidiary that manages prescription drug plans. PIE Application, Mississippi Office of the State Auditor 2020, Statute of Limitations on Bribery Increased, State Auditor Shad Whites Statement on Theodore Teddy DiBiase Jr. I hope the report is taken seriously.. Mr. White's office helped lead the investigation into Mississippi's $77 million welfare fraud scandal, . Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. "It doesn't look good." Former Gov. If MTC does not make payment on the demand within 30 days, the case will be transmitted to the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office for litigation. The item pulled from claims was for work Mills, Scanlon, Dye & Pittman did to defend the council in 2022 Richards Disposal suit. Nearly three years after the massive scandal involving at least $77 million in misspent or stolen federal welfare dollars, the state Department of Human Services on Monday announced a civil lawsuit attempting to claw back $24 million from famous former athletes and pro wrestlers including Bryants friend Brett Favre and Ted The Million Dollar Man DiBiase among others. DHS hired a firm to conduct a forensic audit to detail how millions of dollars meant to help the poor in Mississippi were misused under former Executive Director John Davis. In this May 4, 2017, file photo, Nancy New, owner and Director of the Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC) and New Learning, Inc., is shown at a social function in Jackson, Miss. All rights reserved. Anderson said, Our counsel, Mr. Piggot, has already been reaching out to a number of them inviting them to come sit down and talk with us and tell their side of the story. You cant edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. The investigation could include names not already released in civil complaints issued this week by State Auditor Shad White. endobj Bryant has since acknowledged that the content of his messages doesnt look good, but while the auditors office has possessed the records for over two years, it concealed them from the public and has not made any indication it has further investigated the matter. Ole Miss shows they have some fight left in them. (WLBT) - More details are emerging about the state auditor's investigation into the Jackson City Council's legal expenses, as are accusations about what sparked the state's inquiry. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Angel McIlraths office in the courtroom of Judge Kathy King Jackson. {R)cLS&X?AIF'N3j 4 0 obj Mississippi We are confident that as this process moves forward, any entity (including those not named in the civil complaints), will be identified and held accountable. But White did not reveal that storyline to the public. MDEQ is the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Toll Free: 1.800.321.1275, Contact The new law increases the statute of limitations on bribery from three years to five years. Ware appointed as new Director of Investigations for State Auditor's Office Bryants appointment of his former campaign manager and policy director White as state auditor in 2018 was something of a surprise to most political observers. She has quickly established trust in the Capitol as a fair, honest, and hardworking young reporter. following organizations: State Auditor Shad Whites close connections with former Gov. Investigators are working to determine if OptumRX charged more than contractually allowed, costing taxpayers as a result. Careers However, state Medicaid recipients are not the only Mississippians impacted by PBMs. In Mississippi, the state contracts with health providers to provide Medicaid coverage to nearly 500,000 people. xxD@@pwAKp=]w8%H@ w^OffwvgvBpmT*?28Nn hX0OSg Those oversights are costing the state money, White said. Today State Auditor Shad White announced that Special Agents from his office have served Management & Training Corporation (MTC) with a civil demand totaling nearly $2 million after the company failed to follow the terms of its contract to operate the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) facility in Marshall County. Independent pharmacies across the state are pushing back at what they call unfair practices when it comes to PBM reimbursement.. Editorial cartoons and photo essays are not included under the Creative Commons license and therefore do not have the "Republish This Story" button option. Phil Bryant on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, moments following his being sworn in to office at the Capitol. Especially if I wasnt going to take strong action on it, I would turn it over to somebody else.. Investigating Mississippi's State Welfare Scandal - GIJN Prior to becoming Auditor, White served as a special prosecutor, won ethics cases against politicians who broke Jackson, MS 39205-0956 State Workforce Investment Board c/o Mississippi Department of Employment Security P.O. Bryant said at the time that he wanted someone with independence who did not have numerous political relationships and ties to the government officials and institutions he would be auditing. Mississippi Office of the State Auditor | 1,098 followers on LinkedIn. Richards filed its first complaint against the mayor and council last summer for failing to pay the company for trash collection services. Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are third-party groups that negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and drug stores. Copyright 2021 WLBT. But the findings are statistically significant and can be reasonably extrapolated, according to Stephanie Palmertree, director of finance and compliance at the State Auditors Office. The Mississippi Department of Human Services said in a statement Monday to ABC News: "The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) has been in limited, one-way communication with the federal authorities. An OSA report titled, Pharmacies vs. Big Corporations: Survey Illustrates the Challenge of PBMs for Independent Pharmacies said PBMs were originally created to manage these reimbursements from a health plan to your local pharmacy. <> He worked closely with federal authorities in the Operation Pretense investigation and prosecution of widespread county government corruption across Mississippi. She also received first place in the regional Green Eyeshade Awards in 2021 for Public Service in Online Journalism and 2020 for Business Reporting, and the local Bill Minor Prize for Investigative Journalism in 2019 and 2018 for reporting on unfair medical billing practices and hunger in the Mississippi Delta. a tough, no-nonsense reputation. (WLBT) Mississippi Department of Human Services Executive Director Bob Anderson says though the State Auditor issued civil demands to eleven individuals and groups earlier this week, the agency will continue working with former U.S. Attorney Brad Piggot on the criminal investigation. His trial, which was supposed to start last year, has been delayed several times. endobj Steve Patterson was state auditor from 1992 to 1996, when he resigned after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of using a false affidavit to buy a car tag. If youre not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and include our website, You cannot republish our editorial cartoons, photographs, illustrations or graphics without specific permission (contact our managing editor. See The Spending It was valuable work that helped us resolve a potential stop of picking up of garbage.. Agency Directory. And when those facts are looming out there, youve got to back off and ask will my involvement jeopardize the integrity of the investigation I think (White) is a man of high integrity, but you asked me personally what I would do and thats it.. In the case of the welfare scandal, Auditor Shad White's office turned over information to the Hinds County District Attorney's Office that suggested Nancy New . The total amount of funds recovered by the Office of the State Auditor for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2022, was $1,960,926.57. Published: Apr. White as auditor has burnished a reputation as a hard-charging defender of state tax dollars, and was credited with unmasking a massive scheme in the 2019 welfare scandal. Attorney Lawrence Deas confirmed to the Clarion Ledger Monday morning his firm is still investigating. The Auditors investigation revealed MTC failed to appropriately notify and credit MDOC when its staffing levels at the Marshall County facility fell below the minimum amount required by the contract. NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson speaks onstage during the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Colors Behind the Look: a Celebration of Fashion, Costume Design and Glam Event in Los Angeles, Feb. 25, 2022. The questionable funds included $5 million for a lease agreement for a multi-purpose wellness center that would later become a volleyball stadium, $635,000 for a virtual reality lab that included individuals who weren't identified as needy and $44,000 to retired professional football players for football camps that focused on student-athletes and did not address helping at-risk youth. He has also named Debi Cox as the new Deputy Director of Investigations for the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. MS state auditor's office releases report of Medicaid fraud claims Fax: 601.576.2687 Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, right, confers with fellow Republican and Gov. Four out of six have since pleaded guilty to state charges. Bryant appointed White as state auditor, a job that has been a launching pad for runs to higher office, and supported him in his subsequent election. Note: After this story published, Auditor Shad White responded on Twitter. We do not sell or share your information with anyone. The Mississippi Today investigation revealed that the former governor assisted a company called Prevacus, which improperly received welfare money, and he was poised to receive stock in the company until Whites office made arrests and announced its investigation. She received the National Press Foundations 2020 Poverty and Inequality Award. Careers Both women pleaded guilty to conspiracy and embezzlement. endobj JACKSON, Miss. List of Mississippi Office of the State Auditor employees - SignalHire However, one attorney that was part of the same firm was billing the city at a rate of $375 an hour, he said. endobj of years of prison sentences for fraudsters. The MCEC did not reply to a request for comment from ABC News. The state's settlement with Centene provides a glimpse of what the UnitedHealth probe may center on. 6 0 obj In a sampling of 180 benefit recipients, the auditors office found nine examples of people making too much money to qualify for Medicaid benefits. He was political and investigative editor at the Clarion Ledger, where he also penned a popular political column. Hurst, a Trump administration appointee who left office in early 2021, declined a recent request for comment on the case. The email, along with a memo interpreting state law regarding the hiring of outside attorneys, was sent to the mayor and council just days before the two parties were expected to appear before Judge David Clark in Hinds County Chancery Court. Originally from Florence, Mississippi, Pender is a journalism graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and has received numerous awards throughout his career for reporting, columns and freedom of information efforts. Our investigators have proven we will take on the biggest cases down to the smallest to protect taxpayer dollars, said Auditor White. DpTJ Mississippi Todays The Backchannel investigation, State Auditor Shad White discusses welfare investigation, former Gov. Today State Auditor Shad White hosted a panel discussion on the positive impact present fathers have on their children. Even small instances of noncompliance, youre talking about potentially big savings, White said. 8d The council eventually settled with Richards out of court and agreed to pay the company roughly $4.8 million in back pay for work already done, as well as more than $800,000 a month through March 31 this year. Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditors office online at any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or via telephone during normal business hours at 1-(800)-321-1275. Internships Phone: 601.576.2800 MDHS continues criminal investigation into misspent TANF funds - WLBT All rights reserved. . Phil Bryant have helped cast doubt over the independence and rigor of the state welfare investigation led by White. Some have agreed to, some have not. Stephanie Churchill Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - New information into the largest embezzlement and fraud case in state history involving misspent TANF money - funds meant to help needy families in Mississippi. We believe the taxpayers of Mississippi deserve no less., By joining our newsletter, you are confirming that you agree with the Privacy Policy. Find out what jobs are open by sending an email to [email protected] or follow the instructions below. "We are still early in our investigation," said Colby . Those connections have helped cast doubt over the independence and rigor of the state welfare investigation led by White. Keith. JACKSON, Miss. Agency Directory | MS.GOV Transparency Lee O. Sanderlin is an investigative and political reporter covering the state of Mississippi. Perhaps you can help explain their interest level at this time.. The rule that I lived by was if there is any question whatsoever, dont do it, said Pete Johnson, who served as state auditor from 1988-1992, and ran unsuccessfully for governor, losing to Kirk Fordice in the Republican primary in 1991. - Today State Auditor Shad White announced former Hancock County Coroner James Faulk has been indicted on multiple charges. PDF OFFICE OF THE STATE AUDITOR - State Auditor of Mississippi Last year we recovered nearly $2 million, Auditor White said. State Auditor 'looking into' UnitedHealth as part of Medicaid pharmacy But some holes in the audit have since emerged, especially relating to Bryants involvement behind the scenes. Reveal contacts of top Mississippi Office of the State Auditor managers and employees. Attorney Felicia Perkins confirmed during the April 17 hearing that the memo referenced in the court filings was the document being submitted. The council did not immediately approve a new contract with the company and residents were left without pickups for approximately two weeks. Black Jackson Fathers Dispel Myths As State Auditor Focuses on Phil Bryant's appointed welfare director in 2020 within a sprawling fraud scheme, state and federal investigators and prosecutors have failed to publicly scrutinize the governor's role which is palpable in written communication they've possessed for more than two years. ", Johnson urged "in the strongest possible terms to take immediate action to investigate and prosecute those involved in this massive theft of federal funds.". They have been privy to everything thats been going on in the city of Jackson for the last year, year and a half regarding garbage, he said. A Mississippi judge denied a request to remove Brett Favre from a lawsuit . As for the discrepancy, Williamson said the council approved hiring the firm in question at an hourly rate of $325 or $350 an hour. Today State Auditor Shad White announced former Hancock County Coroner James Faulk has been indicted on multiple charges. Updated: Jul 27, 2021 / 01:43 PM CDT. Mississippi Division of Medicaid investigators dont have the regulatory power to review tax returns themselves, something White said should change. White said the recovery funds also involved inappropriate salary increases approved by some boards of supervisors as well as election commissioners being paid for more days than allowed. Johnson said under similar circumstances, if he had such connections to someone potentially involved, he would have recused himself or limited his role in the investigation.