BATON ROUGE, LA — July 29, 2025 — A Baton Rouge man is facing serious criminal charges after being arrested for multiple counts of Medicaid fraud following an extensive investigation led by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU).
38-year-old Johnny O’Neal Richardson, a resident of Mobile Drive in Baton Rouge, surrendered himself to authorities on Friday, July 18, 2025, and was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Richardson has been charged with four violations of Louisiana Revised Statute 14:70.1 – Medicaid Fraud, stemming from a scheme to fraudulently bill the state Medicaid program for non-emergency transportation services that were never provided.
The Allegations
According to the affidavit filed in the case, the investigation began in May 2022, when the Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit received a report from AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana (ACLA) — a Managed Care Organization (MCO) overseeing Medicaid services. ACLA raised red flags over suspicious billing practices by a Baton Rouge-based provider operating under the name Xpress Medical Transportation, which is owned and operated by Richardson.
Upon receiving the tip, MFCU agents launched an in-depth investigation and requested billing and claims records for services rendered by Xpress Medical Transportation. What investigators uncovered was a troubling pattern of fraudulent billing, involving “standing order trips” — pre-authorized, recurring non-emergency medical transportation trips scheduled by the recipient’s medical provider.
The standing orders, which can cover up to a 12-month period, do not require beneficiaries to reauthorize each trip. This structure, while convenient for legitimate use, allegedly allowed Richardson to submit fabricated trip reports and collect payments without actually providing any transportation.
Timeline of the Fraud
Between December 2021 and June 2022, Richardson allegedly billed Medicaid for non-emergency trips for four separate Medicaid beneficiaries — all of whom were either hospitalized or deceased at the time of the claimed services:
- $2,902.24 was paid to Xpress for trips that supposedly occurred while the beneficiaries were hospitalized and therefore physically unable to be transported.
- An additional $5,718.94 was paid out for trips that Richardson claimed occurred after the death of two Medicaid recipients, between February 2022 and May 2022.
In total, investigators found that $8,621.18 in Medicaid payments were fraudulently claimed and disbursed based on services that were never rendered.
The Legal Consequences
Richardson was arrested on four counts of Medicaid Fraud, a felony under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:70.1, which prohibits knowingly submitting false claims for Medicaid reimbursement. The charges allege that Richardson willfully defrauded the Medicaid program through fabricated documentation and intentional misrepresentation of services.
He was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on July 18, after voluntarily surrendering. He is expected to appear in court at a later date, and additional charges may be pending as the investigation continues.
A Message from the Attorney General’s Office
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill emphasized the seriousness of Medicaid fraud and its impact on vulnerable populations and taxpayers alike.
“Every dollar stolen from the Medicaid system is a dollar taken from those who genuinely rely on this essential program for their healthcare needs,” Attorney General Murrill stated. “We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse the system for personal gain.”
Investigation Continues
Authorities have confirmed that the investigation into Xpress Medical Transportation and Richardson’s billing practices remains ongoing. The case may result in further legal action, civil penalties, or expanded criminal charges depending on the outcome of continued evidence collection and financial audits.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit encourages anyone with additional information related to this case — or similar fraudulent activity — to come forward.
If you suspect Medicaid fraud, waste, or abuse, contact the Louisiana Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at (888) 799-6885 or report online at www.ag.state.la.us.
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