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Tom Tiffany on Fraud Investigations
The Republican running for governor in Wisconsin is promising to get tough on fraud as soon as he takes office.
Tom Tiffany, who is currently the Northwoods’ congressman, on Thursday promised a full state audit to look for fraud.
“As governor, I will audit every program and every agency, because taxpayers deserve to know the full scope of fraud and ensure it is stopped,” Tiffany wrote on X.
Tiffany said there is plenty of evidence of fraud in Wisconsin. Specifically, he pointed to three cases out of Milwaukee.
“Milwaukee prenatal care owner Markita Barnes stole $2.3 million in Medicaid funds meant to support low-income pregnant women, mothers, and babies,” he added. “She spent the money on travel, luxury items from Gucci and Louis Vuitton, and a Rolex watch.”
A judge sentenced Barnes to 10 years in prison for her crimes. A different judge gave a different Milwaukee man 11-years for a similar Medicaid fraud case.
“A Milwaukee man stole more than $2.5 million through Medicaid caregiver fraud, billing for services that were never performed,” Tiffany explained. “Lenard Monroe also fraudulently obtained COVID-19 funds and used them to purchase a car worth over $100,000.”
“Lakia Jackson stole roughly $2.6 million from a Medicaid program meant to support low-income mothers and their babies in Milwaukee,” Tiffany wrote about the third case. “She spent the money on luxury shopping and travel, including $30,000 on flights and $16,000 on hotels.”
Jackson is serving a five year sentence for her crimes.
Tiffany has been sounding the alarm over public benefit fraud in Wisconsin for months, specifically warning that Wisconsin likely has the same kind of fraud problems that have been uncovered in Minnesota.
"Medicaid fraud isn’t just a Minnesota problem," Tiffany said. "[Yet] @GovEvers continues to block audits and even vetoed four new auditor positions."
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