RIGHT SPEAK: DOJ Seizes $1M From COVID-19 Test Company on Medicare Fraud Allegations Tied to Maryland; Tuscaloosa Woman Charged in $600,000 COVID-19 Loan Fraud, and other C-Virus related stories

DOJ seizes $1M from COVID-19 test company on Medicare fraud allegations tied to Maryland:

The Department of Justice seized more than $1 million from a COVID-19 test company, alleging the company defrauded Medicare of at least $43 million, including some victims from Maryland, court documents obtained by 11 News Investigates show.

In May, the first two Maryland residents reached out to 11 News Investigates, saying their Medicare account numbers were charged for unwanted COVID-19 tests. More than 280 residents have contacted 11 News Investigates as of this week, saying the same thing happened to them.

The DOJ and FBI are now getting involved, pursuing one of the companies that charged Maryland residents without their permission.

Marilyn Manger and her husband said they requested the first shipment of COVID-19 tests, but as the months passed, the shipments of tests kept coming.

"Then, I saw your piece on WBAL news about the test fraud, and that made me suspicious as to maybe this is what had happened," Manger said.

Her invoice confirmed it. Her Medicare account number was charged for COVID-19 tests she never requested. When she reported the issue in early August, Medicare allowed her to change her account number. One of the companies that had charged her was SK Diagnostics Inc.

"I know the WBAL investigative team, and I know that you guys keep digging, but you just still don't think anything's going to happen," Manger said.

Earlier this month, a complaint filed in Illinois court revealed the DOJ and FBI seized a bank account belonging to SK Diagnostics containing more than $1.5 million. The complaint details much more, including allegations that the company committed health care fraud amounting to at least $43 million and submitted 471 claims to Medicare for people who died. --->READ MORE HERE

Tuscaloosa woman charged in $600,000 COVID-19 loan fraud:

A Tuscaloosa woman is facing federal charges after prosecutors say she applied for fraudulent COVID-19-era loans totaling more than $600,000.

Tarnisha Doss Harrell, 46, was indicted on 12 federal counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering, said Prim F. Escalona, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.

Harrell allegedly defrauded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and laundered the proceeds, prosecutors said.

From July 2020 through June 2021, Harrell applied for and received two fraudulent PPP loans and conspired with four other Tuscaloosa residents to apply for another six fraudulent loans for which she received a share of the proceeds, the indictment against Harrell alleged. --->READ MORE HERE