U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark sentenced Christopher J. Spencer, 46, to six months of incarceration and six months of house arrest for his role in defrauding the Missouri Medicaid Program. The sentencing took place Tuesday, marking the conclusion of a case in which Spencer used his brother’s identity to obtain over $56,000 in fraudulent payments.
In addition to the sentence, Judge Clark ordered Spencer to repay $56,173 to the Missouri Medicaid Program. The fraud occurred between June 2018 and February 2022 (3 years, 8 months), during which Spencer submitted false claims for Medicaid-reimbursed personal care assistance services.
According to court documents, Spencer’s brother, who lived with him until 2018, initially provided personal care services, which included tasks like housekeeping, meals, bathing, grooming, and transportation. However, after his brother moved out, Spencer continued to submit fraudulent timesheets and Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) records, falsely claiming his brother was still providing care. Spencer also forged his brother’s signature on enrollment paperwork submitted to the Medicaid vendor and used a debit card meant for his brother to spend the fraudulently obtained payments on various personal expenses, including bills, rent, groceries, shopping, and hotels. Additionally, he used his brother’s name and personal information to secure loans or advances on reimbursement payments.
In March, Spencer pleaded guilty to five counts of making false statements relating to health care benefits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow prosecuting the case.
