News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office took action as part of a nationwide crackdown on healthcare fraud, targeting licensed medical professionals and providers allegedly involved in fraudulent schemes and drug diversion.

Nationally, 324 defendants were charged for alleged participation in schemes involving over $14.6 billion in losses. Indiana’s Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted 13 criminal investigations into suspected Medicaid fraud, resulting in charges against 12 individuals.

Attorney General Todd Rokita

In addition, two Indiana residents were federally charged.

Rachel Goldstein, 43, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, was charged by information. Goldstein and veterinary doctors  Ashley Barnett, 41, of Louisville, Kentucky, Laura Webb, 37, of Springfield, Kentucky, conspired to issue prescriptions for over 25,000 Schedule II controlled substances, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, in the names of various canines, including some deceased and fictitious canines, when in reality, Barnett and Goldstein were the recipients of the controlled substances.

Evelyn Ngozi-Emeka Onukwube, 53, was charged with Trevor L. Cherry, 51, of Houston, Texas and Douglas M. Parks III, 35, of Katy, Texas, by indictment with conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and illegal distribution of a controlled substance in connection with their diversion of approximately half a million opioids onto the black market.

As alleged in the indictment, Cherry, Parks, and Onukwube, a licensed pharmacist, used Houston-area pharmacies as fronts and pass-throughs to facilitate their crimes, — ultimately selling controlled substances with an estimated street value of at least $8 million to drug dealers.

In the 13 stateside cases, the Indiana Attorney General’s MFCU investigated licensed health care professionals and Medicaid providers suspected of illegal activities.

These investigations align with a national effort spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Below are summaries of the cases involving Indiana’s MFCU investigations. In each case, the fact that a person has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and these individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The abbreviations “LPN,” “RN,” and “QMA” designate licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and qualified medication aides, respectively.

State V. Jennifer Anne Brant 

In Allen County, Jennifer Anne Brant, 62, of New Haven, Indiana, is charged with Fraud and Theft, both Level 6 felonies.

State V. Tara Tiara Brown

In Allen County, Tara Tiara Brown, 43, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is charged with Fraud and Theft, both Level 6 felonies.

State V. Sheri Hapner

In LaGrange County, LPN Sheri Hapner, 53, of Middlebury, Indiana, is charged with Failure to Make, Keep or Furnish a Record, Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information, and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, all Level 6 felonies.

State V. Nathaniel Stimpson

In Wells County, RN Nathaniel Stimpson, 34, of Decatur, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, a Level 6 felony, and four counts of Theft, all Class A misdemeanors. In Adams County, RN Nathaniel Stimpson, 34, of Decatur, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, a Level 6 felony, and twelve counts of Theft, all Class A misdemeanors.

State V. Billy Guthrie

In Hancock County, RN Billy Guthrie, 48, of Knightstown, Indiana, is charged with Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, all Level 6 felonies.

State V. Dezarae Polinske

In Marion County, RN Dezarae Polinske, 30, of Elkhart, Wisconsin, is charged with Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, all Level 6 felonies.

State V. Lindsay Plake 

In Howard County, Lindsay Plake, 40, of Elwood, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Failure to Make, Keep or Furnish Records, and Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information, all Level 6 felonies, and Theft, a Class A misdemeanor.

State V. Catherine Grimes

In Marion County, Catherine Grimes, 66, of Greencastle, Indiana, is charged with five counts of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit and one count of Failure to Make, Keep or Furnish Records, all Level 6 felonies.

State V. Christy Orwig

In Jefferson County, RN Christy A. Orwig, 58, of Madison, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Illegally Possessing a Narcotic Drug, Failing to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record, and Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information, all Level 6 felonies.

State V. Jenny Byrd

In Vanderburgh County, QMA Jenny F. Byrd, 41, of Oakland City, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Illegally Possessing a Narcotic Drug, and Failing to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record, all Level 6 felonies.

State V. Kayla Bell

In Vanderburgh County, LPN Kayla R. Bell, 35, of Newburgh, Indiana, is charged with Obstructing the Delivery of a Prescription Drug, a Level 5 felony, and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Illegally Possessing a Narcotic Drug, and Failing to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record, all Level 6 felonies.

State V. Patrice Amos

In Marion County, RN Patrice R. Amos, 44, of Avon, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Illegally Possessing a Narcotic Drug, and Failing to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record, all Level 6 felonies.

Attorney General Rokita expressed gratitude to the investigators and attorneys of his Indiana MFCU team for their tireless efforts in these cases.

The Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a federal grant. The remaining 25% is funded by the State of Indiana.

Charging documents connected to the aforementioned cases — excepting those involving active warrants — are available upon request. Email [email protected].