Mendota man pleads guilty to witness tampering
Share this @internewscast.com

SMYTH COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — A woman from Marion has been found guilty on several charges for allegedly cheating the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services.

The Smyth County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Phillip Blevins, released news revealing Karen Michelle Brooks, 56, was found guilty of the following offenses:

  • Felony Medicaid Fraud
  • Felony Obtaining Money by False Pretenses
  • Misdemeanor Identity Theft
  • Misdemeanor Computer Fraud

According to prosecutors, Brooks, who once worked as a patient care technician for a disabled individual, submitted false reports about her working schedule. The release also indicates she “unlawfully accessed a colleague’s account to claim unworked hours.”

According to prosecutors, Brooks’s actions led to fraudulent payments and cost thousands of taxpayer dollars that were meant for proper and actual care of vulnerable Virginians.

Brooks was sentenced to 22 years in the Virginia Department of Corrections; however, the Smyth County Circuit Court suspended the sentence to adhere to the state’s guidelines. Instead, Brooks will be on probation without active incarceration due to her lack of a criminal history.

She was also ordered to repay $47,809.81 to the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services and barred from ever participating in Medicare or Medicaid healthcare programs, according to Blevins’s office.

“This case represents a disturbing betrayal of trust and a deliberate exploitation of a vulnerable adult for personal gain,” Blevins said in a statement. “My office takes this kind of abuse extremely seriously. We will continue to fight for justice on behalf of those who cannot always fight for themselves.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Watch Live at 10 AM: Step-by-Step Guide for Handling a Car Breakdown on the Road

ORLANDO, Fla. – We’ve all been there — stuck behind that car…

Concerns Discussed at Siam Utility District Gathering

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — On Monday, residents gathered at the Siam Utility…

Video Released Following Fatal Shooting of Armed Man by Orange County Deputies

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Following a fatal deputy-involved shooting that occurred last…

Court Temporarily Halts Trump Bill from Cutting Planned Parenthood Funding

A federal judge on Monday granted Planned Parenthood’s request to temporarily halt Medicaid…

Trump Administration Announces Extended Timeline for Tariff Implementation

(The Hill) — On Monday, President Donald Trump is scheduled to dispatch…

Netanyahu Nominates Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize with a Special Letter

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday presented President Trump with a…

Chuck E. Cheese Launches Adult-Friendly Arcades in 8 States

(NEXSTAR) – Too old to throw your next birthday party at a…

Trump Plans to Implement 25% Tariffs on Imports from Japan and South Korea

President Trump announced Monday his administration would impose a 25 percent tariff…

Legendary Tampa Bay Rowdies Head Coach, Gordon Jago, Passes Away at 92

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A legendary figure in the soccer community, and…

Texas Faces Ongoing Flood Threat as Death Toll Surpasses 80

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — In central Texas, the risk of life-threatening flooding…

Key Insights on the Possible Agreement to Maintain TikTok’s Presence in the US

Less than a month after extending a deadline to ban TikTok for…

Augusta Tech and Columbia County Fire Rescue Introduce New Firefighter Degree Program

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. () – Augusta Technical College has teamed up with…