Burlington County Couple Charged with Stealing State Health Benefits

 

Media Release, January 17, 2008

lTRENTON - Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a state employee and his wife were charged today with stealing $1,100 in state health benefits by misrepresenting their marital status.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Edward Baggett, 37, Westampton, formerly employed by the state Division of Youth and Family Services, and Margo Rhett, 41, also of Westampton, were indicted by a Burlington County grand jury on charges of second-degree health care claims fraud, third-degree theft by deception, and fourth-degree falsifying records. The indictment was voted last week but handed up in court today.

The indictment alleges that between Aug. 11, 2003 and April 2, 2004, Baggett, who was an employee of the State of New Jersey, falsely represented that he was married to Margo Rhett so that she and her children could obtain health insurance coverage pursuant to the State Health Benefits Plan. Baggett, in fact, was not officially married to Rhett at the time. Rhett, and her children as dependants of Baggett, would have been entitled to health insurance coverage pursuant to the State Health Benefits Plan had they been officially married. The indictment alleges that both Baggett and Rhett falsified various official state records indicating that they were husband and wife. Baggett and Rhett were subsequently married. As a result of the alleged fraud, the State Health Benefits Plan allegedly paid $1,100 for medical claims and prescription claims.

State Investigators Natalie Brotherston and Kristi Procaccino and Deputy Attorney General Michael V. Troso were assigned to the investigation. Troso presented the case to the Burlington County grand jury.

The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and a fine of $10,000.

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