In an unfolding Medicaid fraud case, 29-year-old Deseraye Dejarnette of Detroit faces charges for submitting fraudulent time sheets and unlawfully receiving over $19,000 in payments after her dismissal as a caretaker, as reported by CBS News Detroit. Authorities allege that Dejarnette, despite being fired, continued to claim she was working as a Direct Hire/Support Professional for a special needs Medicaid beneficiary from July 15, 2022, through April 27, 2023.
Charged with one count of Medicaid Fraud - False Claim, a felony that carries a possible four-year prison sentence or a fine up to $50,000; Dejarnette was arraigned before Judge Lisa Babcock in 54B District Court in Ingham County, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office has set the legal wheels in motion and are pursuing justice for the alleged misappropriation of Medicaid resources, and, as per the Michigan Department of Attorney General's website, Nessel emphasized that "Medicaid funds must be used appropriately, not diverted through fraudulent schemes".
Following her arraignment, Dejarnette was let out on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond, and she is slated to attend a probable cause conference on July 19, with a subsequent preliminary examination scheduled for July 25, detailing of legal proceedings which appear to set the stage for the deeper investigation and potential legal consequences that stem from the misuse of public trust and funds.
The case against Dejarnette is spearheaded by the Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division, a unit that draws 75% of its funding from a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant totaling $5,541,992 for the 2024 fiscal year, the remaining 25% coming from the State of Michigan, showcases the tandem efforts of state and federal regimes aiming to uphold the integrity of health care programs and protect them from exploitation.
