ANDRIA JONES
Jackson Redevelopment Authority Commissioner Andria Jones and business partner Jennifer Green were jailed Tuesday after a Hinds County grand jury indicted the pair on charges of Medicaid fraud and conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud.
Attorney General Jim Hood said Green, 36, of Pearl, and Andria Jones, 38, of Jackson, are charged with three counts of Medicaid fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud.
The indictments issued Tuesday charge that Green and Jones submitted and conspired to submit false claims to Medicaid under various codes on behalf of Tutoring, Assessment and Professional Services (TAPS) in Jackson. At the time crimes were allegedly committed, Green was the director and Jones was the assistant director.
The women were booked into the Hinds County Jail with a bond set at $20,000. They each face possible sentences of five years and $50,000 in fines for each Medicaid fraud and conspiracy count for a total of 20 years and $200,000 in fines. In addition, they could be required to pay restitution and penalties to the Medicaid program of more than $1,040,000.
Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber appointed Jones to the Jackson Redevelopment Authority in 2015. The Redevelopment Authority initiates and oversees redevelopment in blighted areas within the city.
Investigators on the case were Investigator Barrick Fortune, Auditor Teresa Matthews, Registered Nurse Tina Bennett and Analysts Mark Branning and Richard Cameron of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Special Assistant Attorney General Sue Perry is prosecuting the cases.