Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced the conviction of a Conway eye doctor’s employee who was sentenced in Faulkner County to 36 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and ordered to pay almost $860,000 in restitution and fines.
“It doesn’t matter if you own the facility or are an employee, bad actors who defraud taxpayers will be held accountable,†said Attorney General Rutledge. “Medicaid funds are crucial to assist some of our most vulnerable Arkansans.â€
Karen Todd, 53, of Conway pleaded guilty to Class A felony Medicaid fraud and was sentenced to 36 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections with an additional 84 months suspended imposition of sentence. She was ordered to pay $286,536.64 in restitution to the Arkansas Medicaid Program Trust Fund and $573,073.28 in fines to the general revenue of the State of Arkansas. The restitution is joint and several with Dr. Charles Todd, Jr., pursuant to a civil settlement in State v. Dr. Charles Todd, Jr., 23CV-21-1035.
In October 2019, Todd was arrested for Medicaid Fraud. During the time of the investigation, Todd was the office manager of Todd Eye Clinic and the wife of Dr. Charles Todd, Jr. Upon arrest, Todd admitted to purposely submitting fraudulent claims that were thousands of dollars over the actual billable amount.
The case was prosecuted in cooperation with Twentieth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Carol Crews and her office.
Medicaid fraud occurs when providers use the Medicaid program to obtain money to which they are not entitled. To report Medicaid fraud, abuse or neglect related to Medicaid, contact the Attorney General’s Medicaid fraud hotline at (866) 810-0016 or oag@arkansasag.gov