Tanya Grant, 51, was sentenced Dec. 8 for a healthcare fraud scheme carried out through two companies she controlled between 2017 and 2021.
The two companies — Carolina Rehab Products, also known as Atlantic Brace, in Raleigh, N.C., and Blue File DME in Dunn, N.C. — were licensed to supply durable medical equipment such as neck and back braces to Medicare beneficiaries.
Ms. Grant pleaded guilty to the charge on July 6.
Ms. Grant caused CRP and Blue File to bill Medicare for more than $50 million in durable medical equipment between 2014 and 2021, in which Medicare paid Ms. Grant more than $17 million, according to a Dec. 8 Justice Department news release. These funds were used to purchase a home in Raleigh, a townhome in Florida, a Porsche, several Range Rovers, several Jeeps, a boat, jewelry, art and electronics. She also amassed more than a million dollars in cash and investments. These assets have been seized by the government to recover the stolen funds.
To carry out the scheme, Ms. Grant purchased lists of Medicare patient names from companies overseas and billed Medicare for supplying these patients with durable medical equipment. In addition, Medicare was often billed even though no equipment was shipped.
This move comes after a vice president of the companies pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme. Kala Sloan, 28, admitted to falsifying physician orders for medical equipment, according to a Sept. 21 Justice Department news release.