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Prosecutors add 3 fraud charges against Missouri lawmaker Tricia Derges
Source: Associated Press
Prosecutors add 3 fraud charges against Missouri lawmaker
By MARGARET STAFFORD
March 26, 2021
LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri state lawmaker already indicted on 20 charges related to a fraud scheme involving medical treatments now faces three more charges alleging she fraudulently sought federal funding for COVID-19 services at her southwest Missouri clinics.
Federal prosecutors announced Friday that a grand jury returned a superseding indictment this week alleging that Rep. Tricia Derges, a Republican from Nixa, filed claims for nearly $900,000 in federal funding for COVID-19 treatments that were not performed or had already been paid.
The new charges were unsealed Friday during Derges’ arraignment. She pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The 20-count indictment filed in February alleged Derges falsely promoted a treatment she was selling at medical clinics as containing stem cells that could treat various diseases, including COVID-19.
Friday’s indictment charges that Derges applied for $882,644 in CARES Act funding for Lift Up, a nonprofit medical and dental clinic in Springfield that serves the poor, homeless and uninsured.
-snip-
By MARGARET STAFFORD
March 26, 2021
LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri state lawmaker already indicted on 20 charges related to a fraud scheme involving medical treatments now faces three more charges alleging she fraudulently sought federal funding for COVID-19 services at her southwest Missouri clinics.
Federal prosecutors announced Friday that a grand jury returned a superseding indictment this week alleging that Rep. Tricia Derges, a Republican from Nixa, filed claims for nearly $900,000 in federal funding for COVID-19 treatments that were not performed or had already been paid.
The new charges were unsealed Friday during Derges’ arraignment. She pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The 20-count indictment filed in February alleged Derges falsely promoted a treatment she was selling at medical clinics as containing stem cells that could treat various diseases, including COVID-19.
Friday’s indictment charges that Derges applied for $882,644 in CARES Act funding for Lift Up, a nonprofit medical and dental clinic in Springfield that serves the poor, homeless and uninsured.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/indictments-missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-coronavirus-pandemic-2be640dc7681d31d498f50cd6389c64e
______________________________________________________________________
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office - Western District of Missouri
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 26, 2021
More Charges Against State Lawmaker for $900,000 COVID-19 Fraud Scheme at Springfield Health Care Charity
Lift Up Received Nearly $300,000 for COVID-19 Testing Already Paid for by Clients at For-Profit Clinics
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Additional charges have been returned by a federal grand jury against an elected Missouri state representative for a nearly $900,000 COVID-19 fraud scheme, following her indictment last month for a separate fraud scheme in which she made false claims about a supposed stem cell treatment marketed through her clinics in southern Missouri, and for illegally providing prescription drugs to clients of those clinics.
Patricia “Tricia” Ashton Derges, 63, of Nixa, Missouri, was charged in a 23-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, March 23. The superseding indictment replaces the original indictment returned on Feb. 1, 2021, and includes three new counts of COVID-19 fraud in addition to the original charges.
The superseding indictment was unsealed today when Derges appeared in federal court for her arraignment.
Derges was elected in November 2020 as a Missouri state representative in District 140 (Christian County). Derges, who is not a physician but is licensed as an assistant physician, operates three for-profit Ozark Valley Medical Clinic locations in Springfield, Ozark, and Branson, Mo. Derges also operates the non-profit corporation Lift Up Someone Today, Inc., with a medical and dental clinic in Springfield to serve the poor, homeless and uninsured.
Today’s indictment alleges that Derges fraudulently received $296,574 in CARES Act funds for Lift Up, although Lift Up did not provide any COVID-19 testing services to its patients. In fact, Lift Up’s medical clinic closed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained closed from March to June 2020.
Derges allegedly sought CARES Act funding for COVID-19 testing that had been provided, and already paid for, at her for-profit Ozark Valley Medical Clinic. According to the indictment, Derges requested reimbursement for $379,294 in COVID-19 testing and related expenses, and future funding in the amount of $503,350. In total, Derges applied for $882,644 from the CARES Act Relief Fund on Lift Up’s behalf.
-snip-
Friday, March 26, 2021
More Charges Against State Lawmaker for $900,000 COVID-19 Fraud Scheme at Springfield Health Care Charity
Lift Up Received Nearly $300,000 for COVID-19 Testing Already Paid for by Clients at For-Profit Clinics
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Additional charges have been returned by a federal grand jury against an elected Missouri state representative for a nearly $900,000 COVID-19 fraud scheme, following her indictment last month for a separate fraud scheme in which she made false claims about a supposed stem cell treatment marketed through her clinics in southern Missouri, and for illegally providing prescription drugs to clients of those clinics.
Patricia “Tricia” Ashton Derges, 63, of Nixa, Missouri, was charged in a 23-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, March 23. The superseding indictment replaces the original indictment returned on Feb. 1, 2021, and includes three new counts of COVID-19 fraud in addition to the original charges.
The superseding indictment was unsealed today when Derges appeared in federal court for her arraignment.
Derges was elected in November 2020 as a Missouri state representative in District 140 (Christian County). Derges, who is not a physician but is licensed as an assistant physician, operates three for-profit Ozark Valley Medical Clinic locations in Springfield, Ozark, and Branson, Mo. Derges also operates the non-profit corporation Lift Up Someone Today, Inc., with a medical and dental clinic in Springfield to serve the poor, homeless and uninsured.
Today’s indictment alleges that Derges fraudulently received $296,574 in CARES Act funds for Lift Up, although Lift Up did not provide any COVID-19 testing services to its patients. In fact, Lift Up’s medical clinic closed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained closed from March to June 2020.
Derges allegedly sought CARES Act funding for COVID-19 testing that had been provided, and already paid for, at her for-profit Ozark Valley Medical Clinic. According to the indictment, Derges requested reimbursement for $379,294 in COVID-19 testing and related expenses, and future funding in the amount of $503,350. In total, Derges applied for $882,644 from the CARES Act Relief Fund on Lift Up’s behalf.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/more-charges-against-state-lawmaker-900000-covid-19-fraud-scheme-springfield-health
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Also, what the FUCK is she still doing taking up space in the state house?
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