A mayor has been arrested and charged with Medicaid fraud by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
Murrill said Winnsboro Mayor Alice Wallace, 50, of Robinson Drive, was arrested on April 21 and booked into the East Baton Rouge Prison. No bond has been set.
Wallace is charged with six counts of government benefits fraud in what Murrill described as a Medicaid fraud scheme in which the mayor illegal secured $75,000 in benefits from 2021 through 2026.
“It doesn’t matter who you are — if you defraud the hardworking taxpayers of Louisiana, you’re going to jail," Murrill said in a statement.
Murrill said her Louisiana Bureau of Investigation special agents conducted the investigation after Louisiana Department of Health officials referred the allegations to Murrill's agency.
Wallace is accused of fraudulently receiving Medicaid benefits for herself and a dependent.
Advertisement
Murrill said Wallace didn't report to the health department a change in household income, failed to disclose her marital status and intentionally misrepresented the availability of health insurance provided through her employers.
Agents said their investigation showed Wallace and her dependent continuously used Medicaid benefits from 2021 through 2026 while she received a salary that would have made her ineligible to receive Medicaid benefits.
Winnsboro, with a population of about 5,000, is the Franklin Parish seat.
Wallace been the elected mayor of Winnsboro since 2022 and didn't report to LDH that employment, income or availability of medical health coverage as required. Murrill's agents obtained an arrest warrant for Wallace through the 19th Judicial District Court.
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
Arcadia mayor arrested:Arcadia mayor arrested, accused of using town money for car, parties
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times:Louisiana mayor Alice Wallace charged with Medicaid fraud
0 Comments