A 77-year-old Giles County resident, Annette Reynolds, has been convicted on charges related to TennCare fraud and the illegal sale of a Schedule II controlled substance, per an announcement from the Office of Inspector General (OIG). Reynolds, from Pulaski, Tennessee, was found to have sold her Oxycodone, a prescription painkiller covered under TennCare benefits, on two separate occasions.
Reynolds' illegal activities came to light following an investigation by the Pulaski Police Department. She has entered a guilty plea for two counts of TennCare fraud, a Class D felony, and for selling a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class C felony. The medication was originally obtained through the state's healthcare program, TennCare. Following her plea, Reynolds will face a period of one year under GPS-monitored house arrest starting in November, as reported by the Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration.
After her house arrest, Reynolds is to be placed on supervised probation for nine years, supervised by the Tennessee Department of Corrections. Apart from court costs, Reynolds has also been fined $4,000. The Giles County District Attorney General, Brent Cooper, led the prosecution with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Rebecca S. Parsons.
"Anytime TennCare-funded prescriptions are diverted to the illegal market, it puts our communities at risk and drains resources meant for those who truly need them," Inspector General Chad D. Holman said about the conviction. The successful resolution of this case, according to Holman, was in part thanks to the collaborative work of local law enforcement and the Giles County District Attorney’s Office. Those in Tennessee have a monetary incentive to report such fraud through the OIG Cash for Tips Program, which rewards tips leading to a conviction. Reports of suspected TennCare fraud can be made by calling 1-800-433-3982 or by visiting the state's OIG website.
