Oklahoma City, OK – On April 7, 2022, Betty Kristen Corrine Meadows of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, pled guilty before Osage County District Judge Stuart Tate and was sentenced to serve 30 days in the Osage County Jail, ordered to surrender her nurse aide certification, hold no employment involving care of elderly or vulnerable adults while on probation, pay a Five Hundred Dollar ($500.00) court fund assessment, Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) to the Victim Compensation Fund, and the costs of the action. The Court placed Meadows on probation for four years following her jail time.
“We must protect and seek justice for these vulnerable Oklahomans,” said Attorney General John O’Connor. “Our office will not tolerate the financial exploitation of our beloved nursing home residents, no matter how large or small the amount.”
The Oklahoma Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) investigation began after a referral was received from the Oklahoma State Department of Health – Protective Health Services Long Term Care regarding the report of a Barnsdall Nursing Home resident missing money from her room.
During the course of the investigation, Meadows acknowledged that she observed the money (approximately $150.00) in the resident’s room, took the money, and following her shift that day used the money to make purchases at a Dollar General store.
The case was investigated by MFCU Agents and was prosecuted by Oklahoma Assistant Attorneys General. The Oklahoma Attorney General has statewide jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute violations of state and federal laws pertaining to provider fraud in the administration of the Medicaid program. It also investigates and prosecutes cases of abuse, neglect, drug diversion and financial exploitation involving residents in long term board and care facilities and in residential care settings in some circumstances.
To file a complaint with the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit call 1-405-522-2963 or click here.