Debra Smartt
Edward Dodson
Jerry Brazier
Laura Brazier
Tara Lemons
Thomas Holtcamp
Tracee Burnette
Seven people are charged with TennCare fraud in a Marion County round-up of 33 people, all charged with drug-related crimes. The arrests are the result of a six-month undercover investigation involving the Office of Inspector General, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, Marion County Special Response Team, TBI, the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and local police officers from Kimball, South Pittsburg, and Jasper
The seven charged with TennCare fraud are:
Thomas Holtcamp, 62, of South Pittsburg, charged with TennCare fraud and felonious sale and delivery of a controlled substance. He’s accused of using TennCare to obtain the painkiller oxycodone, which is a Schedule II controlled substance, later selling a portion to a confidential informant.
Edward Dodson, 52, of Whitwell, charged with TennCare fraud and felonious sale and delivery of a controlled substance. He’s accused of obtaining oxycodone through TennCare and later selling a portion to a confidential informant.
Tracee Burnette, 45, of Jasper, charged with TennCare fraud and felonious sale and delivery of a controlled substance in connection with using TennCare to obtain morphine, later sellinig a portion to a confidential informant.
Tara Lemons, 30, of Whitwell, charged with TennCare fraud and felonious sale and delivery of a controlled substance in connection with using TennCare to obtain amphetamine salts, a stimulant and Schedule II controlled substance, later selling a portion to a confidential informant.
Jerry Brazier, 63 and his wife Laura Brazier, 34 of Jasper charged together with one count each of felonious sale and delivery of a controlled substance. In addition, Mr. Brazier is charged with TennCare fraud for using TennCare to obtain the painkillers oxycodone and oxymorphone. Ms. Brazier is accused of selling a portion of the pills to a confidential informant, with her husband present during the transaction.
Debra Smartt, 61, of Whitwell, charged with TennCare fraud and felonious sale and delivery of a controlled substance in connection with using TennCare benefits to obtain hydrocodone and later sold a portion to a confidential informant.
“Local law enforcement – especially the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit – was key to building these cases and helping us make these arrests,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “The outcome of this operation is a direct result of the time and hard work the Marion County Sheriff’s Office invested in identifying drug seekers and getting them off the street. We depend on local officers to help us in the war against TennCare drug fraud, and they are getting the word out that this type of abuse will not be tolerated in their community.”
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison. District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor is prosecuting.
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,654 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.
Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or visit the website and follow prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”