Griffin: ‘Arkansas’s MFCU continues their exemplary work ensuring bad actors attempting to defraud Medicaid or abuse our vulnerable populations are held accountable’
LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement announcing seven recent arrests made by his office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU):
“These cases—five felony charges and two misdemeanors—were investigated by special agents within MFCU and include charges for Medicaid fraud, abuse of a vulnerable person, and failure to report the abuse of an adult. Arkansas’s MFCU continues their exemplary work ensuring bad actors attempting to defraud Medicaid or abuse our vulnerable populations are held accountable.
“I am grateful to the investigators and attorneys within MFCU for their excellent work and ongoing dedication to justice.”
Recent Arrests
On September 11, Sharon Whitaker, 59, of Conway was arrested and charged with Medicaid fraud, a Class B felony. Whitaker submitted claims totaling $6,850.56 for personal care services for clients within the apartment complex she managed during her scheduled hours as the property manager. This case was investigated by Special Agent Laura Glover and will be prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General David Jones in cooperation with Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Will Jones.
On September 11, John Weis, 21, of Booneville was arrested and charged with abuse of a vulnerable person, a Class D felony. While working as a certified nursing assistant at the Booneville Human Development Center, Weis purposely caused injury to a resident. This case was investigated by Special Agent Laura Glover and will be prosecuted in cooperation with Fifteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II.
On September 17, Shane Phillips, 38, of Little Rock was arrested and charged with Medicaid fraud, a Class A felony. Phillips submitted claims totaling $88,104.96 for personal care and attendant care services during his client’s inpatient hospital stay and while Phillips was on the clock for other employers. This case was investigated by Special Agent Laura Glover and will be prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Corinne Kwapis in cooperation with Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Will Jones. This case was referred to MFCU by the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General.
On September 17, Gregory Davell Clayborn, 33, of Arkadelphia was arrested on a charge of abuse of an adult, a Class D felony; Shamirrah Desha Childs, 25, of Arkadelphia was arrested on a charge of failure to report the abuse of an adult, a Class B misdemeanor; and Debbie Kay Thomas, 61, of Arkadelphia was arrested on a charge of failure to report the abuse of an adult, a Class B misdemeanor. While working at the Arkadelphia Human Development Center (AHDC), Clayborn purposefully and unnecessarily slapped a resident, causing him substantial physical pain and mental anguish. Childs and Thomas, who worked as caregivers at AHDC, failed to report Clayborn’s abuse of a resident. The cases against all three were investigated by Special Agent Jacob Good and will be prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General David Jones and Corinne Kwapis in cooperation with Ninth-East Judicial District Prosecutor Dan Turner.
On September 18, Michael Bodine, 33, of Beebe was arrested on a charge of Medicaid fraud, a Class C felony. While working at a local business, Bodine was simultaneously billing Medicaid for personal care services for two different Medicaid beneficiaries. Bodine caused over 90 fraudulent claims to be billed for $4,725.76. The case was investigated by Special Agent Richard Morales and will be prosecuted by Senior Assistant Attorney General Gabby Davis-Jones in cooperation with Sixth Judicial District Prosecutor Will Jones.
The Arkansas MFCU receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant totaling $4,781,516 for the Federal fiscal year 2026, of which $3,586,140 is federally funded. The remaining 25%, totaling $1,195,376 for the State fiscal year 2026, is funded by Arkansas General Revenue.
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