Poetic

The drug and alcohol counselors recently convicted of state benefit fraud?

Seems they were also patients of a certain Dr. Feelgood in Wichita, currently under investigation by the DEA. The case first came under our radar due to patient deaths, now totaling several dozen.

The counselors, their close friend (also another Medicaid drug and alcohol counselor, and an unknown number of family members have been receiving regular prescriptions for narcotic painkillers and CNS meds.

I bet you ten dollars... those family members receiving drugs from Dr. Feelgood were also being billed to Medicaid for addictions counseling.

That is democracy in action, folks.

It's Been A Long Time Coming

... but we finally got to wrap the first of our big federal Medicaid cases. While it has been only over a year since they were federally indicted (props to Ali's mom's team!), my department has been dealing with these fools from the state perspective since early 2005.

The paper doesn't have it quite right on the sentencing part. With their previous federal convictions (yes, they've done time already!), they could face up to 25 years. Good thing I realized a long time ago, you can't believe everything you read in print.

Wichitan convicted of defrauding Medicaid
Wichita Business Journal - 6:36 PM CDT
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
by Shane T. Farley

A Wichita couple that operated a drug and alcohol counseling center were convicted of making more than $1.25 million in false Medicaid claims, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Peggy Franklin-El, 50, was convicted on 69 counts including conspiracy to defraud Medicaid, health care fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice.

Johnnie Franklin-El, 53, was convicted on 22 counts including conspiracy, health care fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice.

The defendants operated a business called the Great Meeting is on for Your Success, Inc. at 1015 E. Ninth St. The business made false claims for 67 Medicaid beneficiaries who were supposed to have received community-based drug and alcohol treatment.

Among the claims were supposed treatment for infants and children 12 years and younger and people who had no known substance addiction. In one case, the beneficiary named in the claim was only 36 days old.

Sentencing is set for June 11. The couple face a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on both the conspiracy and obstruction charges.

The Kansas Attorney General's office investigated and aided the U.S. attorney's office in prosecuting the case.

Evidence presented at trial showed that Peggy Franklin-El received a salary of $65,000 to serve as executive director and Johnnie Franklin-El was paid as much as $5,000 a week to serve as president and program director and to provide counseling.

Lyndy Weeps

Everclear is playing the Tempe Music Festival March 31 (this Saturday night)....

I don't arrive in Phoenix until the following Monday.

WAH!!

Though I guess it's better I miss the show... my boss wouldn't appreciate me abandoning her for a number of hours. And I am too cheap to buy her a ticket to go with me.

Not that I *wouldn't*, that she doesn't *deserve* it. Lovely woman, and LOTS of fun... but she likes country music.

Oy! Good thing we have margaritas in common.

Oops!

I picked Oregon to win it all.

At least I was right on North Carolina going down!

Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive..

No longer will I feel guilty if I have no loyalty to other Big 12 schools.

For my "real" bracket, I picked Texas to go to the finals against Oregon. Even though I left the Jayhawks behind in the final four. Even though I don't like coach "Ratboy" Barnes.

But for my loyalty? My Eastern bracket is toast. My Midwest one is on life support, with only Florida and Oregon left. Even then, I have Florida going out next.

My dream bracket is doing better, with only Tennessee really throwing a wrench in the works.

After two rounds: "real"= 35 right, 13 wrong "dream" 39 right, 9 wrong

Pity young Adrian, he's screwed. He had a Duke/Texas final, with Texas winning it all. Poor fool. He's from Texas, though. I still like him, anyway.

PS: tomorrow after work, we head to historic Dodge City-- via McPherson, Garden City, Great Bend, and Ft. Larned. D's going to rack up some stamps in his historical landmarks passport, and we all are going to rack up some serious family time. I'm *so* ready for the break from work!

PPS: I was so excited to see Kirk Hinrich in the local newspaper, cheering on KU in Chicago. Then one of the shoe girls goes all wonder killer and tells me he's getting married. Wah!

Poor Duke

Bwaha ha ha... ha ha ha!!

I want to wish North Carolina out-- but in my fantasy bracket, I have a KU-UNC final. My realistic bracket has them out in three. Though I'm more than willing to lose the points and have them out soon.

Now if I could find one of those "shamrock Jayhawk" shirts, I'd be all ready for St. Patrick's Day!

My Newest Artist Crush

Eric Poulten has posted another Steampunk Star Wars drawing and synopsis.

One of the commentors opined a steampunk series would have been much cooler than Episode I-III. Other than being way out of time line, that would totally rock.

I also have a craving for more Edward Gorey work.

Your Wait is Well Rewarded

Here's some eye candy for all to share, compliments of Dave's Long Box. Click the first link for more pics and the story, I'm just too lazy.

Is that not some ubercool geekness? I have also been much enjoying Dave's recent comic book entries.

Although last week started out in the dumps (super sick, with a sucking dizzy twist-- thank the gods for antibiotics and meclizine), it definitely finished on a high note!

Not only did my kid think I was the bestest mom ever for buying tickets to see My Chemical Romance.. but the show was pretty good, and monster picked out a cool tour t-shirt. We had the added bonus of aunt Donna going with us, even though she was tired and had to put up with me being bossy all night. That what she gets for being family.

Saturday was mellow, even if I had to work at the store. Ended up working at the Wanamaker store in the evening, which was a nice change of pace. Always fun to check out different inventory and a change of scenery.

Sunday was nice and quiet, doubly so since I didn't have to work. I do love that Travel Channel shows three hours of Samantha Brown and her European travels every week!

You know, mother actually was right... if you clean up your room, you will find things presumed lost forever. I found my Camille necklace!!! It had fallen off the nightstand, and slid down under some junk. When I finally moved trash out of the way, there is was. I just about squealed!

Seeing as Camille was looking after me, I decided to go ahead and support the hippies at the Spirit, Mind, and Body fair. Didn't find anything too revoluntionary, but was happy to get a read from Madame Ruby. She's always fun.

My rockstar even had geek night set up, working on hobby projects while watching ST:NG episodes. Now that I'm actually started on our North Carolina pictures... I'm grooving on the landscape format scrapbook. That, and I totally love the paper pack I'm using:

OH!

And guess what arrived in my mail today?

My signed copy of Neil Gaiman's "Fragile Things", ooh yeah!