Attorney General Mike DeWine…
Medicaid fraud suspect arrested 
May 23, 2012 

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today the arrest of a North Carolina man accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ohio’s Medicaid Program. 

Special agents with the Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Section assisted the Concord, North Carolina, Police Department in arresting Augustine Kotee, 39, at his residence in Concord last night.  

A Franklin County grand jury indicted Kotee this month on sixteen charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, receiving stolen property, theft, and falsification in a theft offense. 

“According to our investigation, this suspect was the architect behind four fictitious businesses that only existed on paper,” said Attorney General Mike DeWine.  “He played it off on paperwork that he was working to help sick Ohioans.” 

Authorities started investigating Kotee when he allegedly billed Medicaid for services provided to patients who were already deceased. 

Investigators said Kotee initially operated a legitimate transportation service for Medicaid recipients in Columbus.  After that business closed, he allegedly opened four fake businesses that he claimed provided transportation and durable medical equipment for Ohio Medicaid patients.  Authorities said that Kotee’s businesses never provided any legitimate services, and he fraudulently billed Medicaid for these phony operations for nearly four years. 

“We estimate this man got off with more than $200,000,” DeWine said.  “We are determined to get that money back so it can help Ohioans with real medical needs.” 

The North Carolina and South Carolina Attorney Generals’ Medicaid Fraud Control Units and the Rock Hill, South Carolina, Police Department also assisted in providing resources. 

Kotee is currently in the Cabarrus County Detention Center on $300,000 bond.  An extradition hearing is scheduled for today.  You can find a picture of the suspect on the Ohio Attorney General’s Website. 

The Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Section investigates and prosecutes health care providers who defraud the state’s Medicaid program.  The Section also investigates alleged misappropriation of patient funds and enforces Ohio laws protecting mentally or physically disabled or elderly citizens from financial exploitation, neglect and abuse in long-term care facilities. 

Anyone who suspects Medicaid fraud or patient abuse or neglect can contact Attorney General DeWine’s office at 1-800-282-0515 or www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.