Warner Robins woman indicted for defrauding Medicaid for $5 million, DOJ says
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- Elizabeth Ivester indicted for $5.4M Medicaid fraud using false claims, IDs.
- Ivester allegedly submitted 77,095 false claims via Liberty Medical business.
- DOJ action charged 324 defendants, targeting $14.6B in nationwide fraud schemes.
A Warner Robins woman who operated a medical equipment supplier company was indicted for allegedly organizing “a scheme to defraud the Georgia Medicaid program of more than $5.4 million,” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced Monday.
Elizabeth Sue Ivester, 62, was charged May 14 with one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, 11 counts of health care fraud, and 11 counts of aggravated identity theft. Her indictment was unsealed June 18, according to federal court records.
Ivester’s indictment is part of the Department of Justice and Carr’s “strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants,” which included 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other licensed medical professionals in 50 federal districts nationwide. Together, they stole over $14.6 billion, according to the DOJ.
“Prosecuting Medicaid fraud is a top priority for our office, and we’re proud to work with our federal partners in this effort,” said Carr. “Defrauding Medicaid is the same as stealing taxpayer dollars, and we will hold violators accountable.”
More than 77,000 false Georgia Medicaid claims filed
Ivester owned and operated Liberty Medical, a durable medical equipment supplier, that operated between March 2002 and September 2024, court records say. Liberty Medical was enrolled and credentialed with the Georgia Medicaid program, which allowed Ivester to be reimbursed for items and services from individuals insured by Medicaid, according to the indictment.
The indictment further alleged that Ivester executed a scheme to defraud the Georgia Medicaid program by submitting at least 77,095 false claims for medical equipment that was never dispensed, starting June 13, 2014 until September 30, 2022. Those claims also falsely represented the identity of the prescribing physician and used the recipients’ identification numbers under Medicaid, according to the indictment.
The fraudulent claims “resulted in payments from Georgia Medicaid for $5,437,283.26 for 7,684 Medicaid recipients,” the indictment said.
Between Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, 2020, Ivester submitted 1,982 claims for medical equipment for 391 recipients, which totaled $127,352.37, the indictment said.
Ivester was arrested on June 17, the same day she faced Magistrate Judge Charles Weigle in Macon, according to federal court records. She was released the same day on an unsecured bond of $15,000.
“Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
What’s next?
Though Ivester’s trial was scheduled for July 21, both her attorney, P. MacKenzie Miller, and the prosecutor Tarrea Williams, requested the trial to be scheduled around September due to the evidence in the case being “voluminous.” Federeal court records say the evidence is “still being prepared by the Government’s lead attorney,” according to federal court records.
“These matters require additional time to investigate and research that needs to be completed before proceeding to trial,” according to the request.
