FOUR CANNON COUNTY RESIDENTS CHARGED WITH TENNCARE FRAUD

NASHVILLE – A mother and daughter are among four people in Cannon County charged with TennCare fraud. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the four arrests – all accused of prescription drug fraud within the TennCare program.

Governor Phil Bredesen created the Office of Inspector General, one of the first units of its kind in the nation, in 2004. Since it became operational in February 2005, 250 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Peggy Jo Markum, 51, and her daughter, Peggy Sue Marcum, 32, both of Woodbury, are each charged with 32 counts of TennCare fraud for allegedly using TennCare benefits to pay for forged prescriptions.  Indictments charge each woman with 16-counts of TennCare fraud and 16 counts of obtaining prescription drugs by fraud.  Special agents say both mother and daughter obtained eight different prescription drugs, including the addictive pain medication hydrocodone.

In another Cannon County indictment, Angela Kataja, 29, and Steven Davis, 26, of Woodbury are accused of one count of TennCare fraud and one count of attempting to obtain possession of a controlled substance in this case, the painkiller hydrocodone - by fraud or forgery.

All four will be prosecuted by District Attorney Bill Whitesell. If convicted, each could face up to twelve years in prison.

“The Woodbury Police Department laid the groundwork on these arrests and asked for our assistance in developing solid TennCare fraud cases,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “Local officers are usually the first point of contact with some of those who are committing TennCare fraud, and they want to get it off the streets as badly as we do.”