OKLAHOMA CITY – A Lawton woman working for a disability services and support organization in Chickasha was among more than a dozen persons swept up in a Medicaid fraud investigation.
The state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) wrapped up investigations earlier this month in10 counties across Oklahoma that resulted in 10 arrests and two surrenders, 10 criminal cases and one civil action. More than $1.5 million in anticipated restitution and potential fines were identified in the collective enforcements, officials reported.
The investigation, titled Operation Sooner Shield, targeted alleged abusive and fraudulent misconduct by healthcare providers. Agents, investigators and attorneys from the state Attorney General’s office coordinated with MFCU units in Kansas, Tennessee and Texas during the investigation.
Christa Lee Rogoff, 43, a habilitation training specialist who lives in Lawton, is charged in Oklahoma County District Court with neglect by a caretaker, a felony crime.
The complaint alleges that on March 1, Rogoff “willfully and knowingly neglected to use wheelchair restraints” for a patient identified in court records as “E.B., a vulnerable adult entrusted to her care.” Rogoff is accused of instructing another vulnerable adult who also was in her care to push E.B.’s wheelchair down an escalator in Oklahoma City; that allegedly caused E.B. “to fall from the top to the bottom” of the escalator, resulting in severe injuries to the patient.
At the time, Rogoff was employed at the Chickasha Opportunity Center, 719 County Road 1350/Frisco Avenue, Chickasha.
Rogoff was released from custody on $25,000 bond posted March 30, and her arraignment is scheduled for April 28.
Patricia Gail Bush, 45, of Stigler, a licensed nursing home administrator, was charged March 26 in Haskell County District Court with two counts of exploitation of elderly persons or disabled adults, and one count of financial neglect by caretaker.
All three felony charges accuse her of siphoning money in 2024 from bank accounts of three residents in the Haskell County Nursing Center – two of whom are “elderly and/or disabled” adults and one of whom is described as a “vulnerable adult” – and using those funds for Bush’s personal benefit.
She was released on a $15,000 appearance bond and was ordered to return to court April 14.
Marcella Jean Freed, 52, of Caney, Kansas, was charged in Washington County District Court with three felony counts of financial exploitation of the elderly.
While employed as the business manager for Bartlesville Health and Rehab Center, Freed allegedly stole money over a period of 14 months from four persons who were residents of the facility, and used the funds for personal expenses. One of the victims was 87 years old, two were 76, and the other was 75, court records reflect.
Freed was released on a $9,000 appearance bond and was directed to return to court May 1.
Katrina Eva Gittins, a/k/a Katrina Eva Cavazos, 44, from Flower Mound, Texas, was charged in Oklahoma County with Medicaid fraud. She is accused of “willfully and knowingly causing to be submitted to the Oklahoma Medicaid Program false claims for payment…” She was released on $5,000 bond posted March 27, and her arraignment is set for April 23.
Larosa Maerene Dillard, 47, of Tulsa, is charged in Tulsa County with four counts of exploitation of elderly persons or disabled adults. The alleged felony crimes occurred in May and June 2023, court records indicate. Dillard is free from custody on a $20,000 bond and is to return to court April 29.
Three felony counts were filed March 26 in Oklahoma County District Court against Janice Mae Cliver, 73, from Ocoee, Tennessee. She is accused of committing Medicaid fraud, identity theft, and violation of Oklahoma’s Computer Crimes Act, from Nov. 1, 2024, through Nov. 30, 2025.
Cliver is charged with submitting bogus claims to the Oklahoma Medicaid program; using the personal identities of four Medicaid recipients to “fraudulently obtain or attempt to obtain money;” and using a computer to fraudulently “input progress notes and bill Oklahoma Medicaid for services not rendered…” Pamela Sue Fisher, 58, of Henryetta, is charged in Okmulgee County with four counts of exploiting elderly or disabled adults in 2021 and 2022. Her bond was set at $20,000 and her next court date is April 30.
Nse T. Udo, 61, of Norman, is accused of two counts of submitting fraudulent claims to the Oklahoma Medicaid Program between Jan. 1, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2026; one charge of using the personal identities of multiple Medicaid recipients to “fraudulently obtain or attempt to obtain money” for personal benefit; and one count of using a computer to submit fake bills to the state Medicaid program. A $5,000 appearance bond for Udo was posted April 1 and arraignment is set for April 29.
Peggy Joyce Anderson, 66, of Yukon, is charged in Oklahoma County District Court with submitting bogus Medicaid claims. Her bond was set at $5,000 and arraignment is scheduled for April 28.
A total of eight Medicaid fraud charges were filed in Oklahoma County against Leonard Nwadioha Nwanebu, 67, of Oklahoma City; Jacob A. Germany, 65, Norman; Patricia Ann Germany, 65, Moore; and Ronny Jay Germany, 75, Moore. They are accused of submitting false claims from Jan. 1, 2022, through Jan. 31, 2024, for payments totaling $54,569 for Medicaid services they “did not render.”
Bond for the Germanys was set at $5,000 each, while bond for Nwanebu was set at $10,000. All four bonded out March 30, and their arraignment is scheduled for April 28.