Even though allegations of a crime are just that -- mere accusations of suspicion of committing a crime -- they have the potential to ruin someone's life. Accusations can affect the accused's livelihood, relationships and future prospects if not dealt with properly and in a timely manner. The sooner the accused starts working on their defense and dealing with the issue at hand, the quicker they can return to their normal life.
Health care fraud allegations can be especially serious, because they carry severe penalties, as the accused may be punished not only with prison time for fraud but in some circumstances also for theft. These are the penalties a Georgia woman faces for allegedly claiming she lived in another state to receive TennCare benefits.
The woman apparently falsely reported she and her children lived in another state to obtain health insurance benefits. If she is found guilty, she could be sentenced to eight years in prison -- two years for fraud and six for theft of property. According to the Acting Inspector General, anyone who is not worthy of receiving these benefits and commits fraud to receive them by misrepresenting their income, address, employment or any other relevant information will be prosecuted.
Prison time means time away from family, which is especially difficult if the accused has young children who need to be provided for. The first thing Georgia residents must remember is that they are innocent until proven guilty and they have a right to defend themselves. However, depending on their particular circumstances, Georgia residents can explore other options available to them. To do that though, they must be aware of what their options are. A fraud defense attorney may be able to help them in this matter.
Source: wgowam.com, "Georgia woman charged with TennCare fraud," July 17, 2014