Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has announced charges against Chavis Willis for racketeering and five counts of felony theft by swindle. Willis, previously convicted of aiding and abetting second-degree murder, was barred from operating any Medicaid-funded business. However, an investigation revealed that Willis used 1-0 Granny’s Helpful Hands LLC to defraud the Medicaid program of over $7.3 million.
Attorney General Ellison stated, "When criminals defraud Medicaid, they are stealing money that should be providing health care to folks who are struggling financially." He emphasized his office's commitment to holding fraudsters accountable.
Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), highlighted the harm caused by false claims: “Providers who submit false claims and falsify records for personal gain do real harm to our federal health care programs and the beneficiaries that these programs serve.”
The investigation found that on paper, Granny’s was owned by Willis’ mother, Raynell Finn, who resided in California but was minimally involved in operations. Willis managed all agency activities and falsely represented ownership to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). The DHS would not have reimbursed funds if it had known about Willis' involvement.
Willis also hired a biller with prior felony convictions related to identity theft. This individual billed for unprovided services while working at Granny’s. During her jail sentence for identity theft, Willis impersonated his mother to secure her work release.
The case resulted from a joint investigation involving several agencies including the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) in Attorney General Ellison's office and the HHS-OIG. The Minnesota MFCU is prosecuting the case with assistance from other state and federal agencies.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives significant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is dedicated to uncovering fraudulent activities against Medicaid.