Law Enforcement

Fraud case duo sentenced last week

by DENISE MARTIN

District Judge John McBride had a Franconia Township mother and son standing before him for sentencing last week. Lana Barnes, 58, and Fred Barnes, 28, appeared in district court July 24 after entering guilty pleas in connection with a multi-year Medicaid fraud case. Due to the complexity of the case it was prosecuted in Center City, by Assistant Minnesota Attorney General Chuck Roehrdanz. Lana Barnes was facing seven felony counts of medical theft. As part of a plea agreement she pled guilty to two counts, and the rest were dismissed. Fred Barnes pleaded guilty to one count of theft by false representation. Lana is currently under electronic home monitoring for 60 days and may not leave her Quinlan Ave. home.

She will make total restitution to the government of $79,832. She is not to act in any financial capacity for another person and is not to be employed in any job related to medical care or Medicaid funds. She will submit DNA and allow random searches. Probation is until July 24, 2023. Fred will do 40 hours of Community Service and is on supervised probation for two years, with a stayed 365 day jail sentence to be imposed if he strays. The fraud investigation got underway when a Chisago County Human Services case worker brought concerns about billing to the state’s attention. (Press story Jan 17, 2013).

There were questions about an ineligible party receiving payment for providing the personal care attendant hours for Lana’s husband. There also was about $20,000 worth of attendant wage hours claimed at the same time the elder Mr. Barnes was hospitalized, and compensation for a personal care attendant wouldn’t have been possible. The mother-son fraud was alleged to have occurred from January 2007 to May 31, 2010.

Booked

July 22
Britney Iona Norstebon, 27, North Branch. Booked by county. Bailed.

July 23
Jeannie Rae Rasmussen, 49, Rush City. Booked by county. Released.
Anthony Gabriel James, 25, Lindstrom. Booked by county. Held under sentence.

July 24
Rachel Nicole Yanez, 21, Mpls. Booked by warrant. Case dismissed, released.
Stephanie Marie Deloye, 24, Chisago City. Booked by warrant. Bailed.
Sabrina Anne Johnson, 35, Cambridge. Booked by county on state hold. Held.
Ann Boyle Gademsky, 50, Cambridge. Booked by county. Held under sentence, released.
Jonathan Allen Nelson, 24, Lindstrom. Booked by county. Bailed.

July 25
Jordan Robert Prokott, 23, Rush City. Booked by county. Bailed.
Michael Anthony Denucci, 21, St. Cloud. Booked by out of county hold order. Released to another facility.
Latia Lee Peterson, 34, North Branch. Booked by warrant. Bailed.
Danika Marie Simonson, 38, Chisago City. Booked by county. Held.

July 26
Ryan Keith Ortlepp, 21, North Branch. Booked for probation violation. Held.
Emily Marie Nosie, 20, Chisholm. Booked by county. Bailed.
Joshua James Nelson, 27, Taylors Falls. Booked by county. Held.
Eric John Hocking, 28, Wisc. Booked by county on warrant. Released.