The five defendants in the "Cream Scheme" case at Chattanooga Federal Court will find out their fates on March 4.
Judge Sandy Mattice said he will rule then on the guilt or innocence of Wayne Wilkerson, Michael Chatfield, Kasey Nicholson, Jayson Montgomery and Billy Hindmon.
The government says they are guilty of healthcare fraud involving recruitment of individuals to buy creams at highly inflated prices with the amounts covered by insurance companies or the government health agency for veterans.
The government says Wilkerson made over $14 million and Chatfield $5.4 million. It says Ms. Nicholson’s commissions were $938,740, of which she paid $204,000 to Matthew Perkins, a sailor who recruited other military personnel to sign up for the creams. Hindmon’s commissions were $1,031,296, and Jayson Montgomery’s commissions were $337,068, it was stated.
Attorneys for the defendants say no laws were broken and they should be exonerated following the bench trial that last for months off and on.
There are 178 counts charged against various defendants.
Attorneys gave final arguments to Judge Mattice on Tuesday.