Three people, health-care firm indicted in forgery investigation

A Baton Rouge grand jury indicted three people and a Baton Rouge personal-care company on forgery charges stemming from a Medicaid fraud investigation by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.

Prosecutors said Tuesday Dwaine Joseph Woods, 43, 35297 Beverly Hills Drive, Prairieville, and his company, Millennium Health Care Services LLC, were charged with single counts of conspiracy to commit forgery and being principals to felony theft and with 19 counts of being principals to forgery, the Attorney General’s Office said in a news release.

Woods’ wife, Dynetta Hadrick Woods, 40, an employee of Millennium, also of 35297 Beverly Hills, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit forgery and 19 counts of being a principal to forgery, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors allege the Woodses and Millennium were part of a conspiracy to forge needed certifications for company employees. The Woodses had Millennium employee Jamaal Ellis Fletcher forge cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid certification cards for 19 Millennium employees who never attended training, so they would be in compliance with requirements at the time, prosecutors said.

In a separate indictment, Fletcher, 29, last known address of 12527 Coursey Blvd., Baton Rouge, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit forgery and 19 counts of principal to forgery, prosecutors said.

Personal-care attendants help elderly and disabled Medicaid patients with daily activities, such as bathing, grooming, dressing and eating, Amanda Larkins, director of communications for the attorney general, said in an email.

Millennium, which had locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Denham Springs, did business as Millennium PCA Services. That company billed the Louisiana Medicaid Program for more than $10 million dollars from 2006 to 2010, Larkins said.

Prosecutors with Caldwell’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit presented the case to the grand jury and the indictments were returned Thursday.

If convicted as charged, the defendants could face up to 100 years in prison, prosecutors said. The defendants also face fines of up to $100,000 or $103,000, depending on their charges.