Home / Crime and Justice / Georgia Doctor Billed Millions for Fake Services
Georgia Doctor Billed Millions for Fake Services
10 Jul
Summary
- Atlanta doctor charged with billing $4.3M for services never performed.
- Man used fake nursing credentials to get jobs in Georgia.
- Marietta mental health practice settled fraud allegations for $375,000.
Federal prosecutors in Georgia have announced charges in two distinct health care fraud cases as part of a national enforcement action. These cases highlight allegations including false Medicaid billing and the use of fake nursing credentials.
An Atlanta doctor, Murrell Carnel Rutledge Jr., is accused of defrauding Georgia Medicaid of approximately $4.3 million. Prosecutors allege he billed for thousands of services, such as wound care and psychotherapy, that were never performed or were misrepresented between January 2017 and April 2023.
In a separate case, Lonnie Releford is charged with concealing material facts related to health care matters. He allegedly used fraudulent documents and another nurse's identity to obtain nursing positions around metro Atlanta from August 2021 to April 2025, despite lacking proper qualifications.
Additionally, a Marietta mental health practice, Avant Interventional Psychiatry, and its owner, Dr. Okah Anyokwu, have agreed to pay $375,000 to resolve civil allegations. These claims involved submitting Medicaid bills for services rendered by unlicensed individuals.
The national operation, involving the U.S. Department of Justice, has led to charges against 455 defendants nationwide for schemes totaling over $6.5 billion in alleged false claims. Patients are advised to review their health care statements for discrepancies.
