Attorney General's News Release

February 22, 1996

Federal grand jury indicts Bootheel dentist on Medicaid fraud charges

St. Louis, Mo. — A federal grand jury in St. Louis today handed down a multiple-count criminal indictment against a Caruthersville dentist for alleged fraud against the Missouri Medicaid program.

The grand jury indictment was at the request of U.S. Attorney Ed Dowd and Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon and followed an investigation by Nixon's office into the billing practices of John D. Gardner, D.D.S.

The grand jury handed down an indictment of 47 counts of Medicaid fraud and four counts of mail fraud against Gardner. The grand jury alleges that Gardner billed Medicaid for services he did not provide, including hard tissue biopsies and the excision of cysts and tumors.

The charges of mail fraud are based on allegations that Gardner used the United States mail to further his scheme to defraud Medicaid.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General's Office has authority under state law to investigate allegations of fraud against the state's Medicaid program.

Each of the counts of Medicaid fraud and mail fraud is punishable under federal law by up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine. The charges against Gardner are merely accusations; as in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818