Georgia – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has announced a statewide Medicaid fraud takedown that has led to indictments against five people accused of stealing more than $41,000 from the Georgia Medicaid program.
The cases center on alleged fraud involving Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver programs, which support patients receiving care outside traditional institutional settings. According to Carr’s office, indictments were secured in Athens-Clarke, Gwinnett, Houston and Richmond counties after investigations by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Patient Protection Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
“Billing for hours never worked is one of the most pervasive forms of Medicaid fraud, and it will result in prosecution by our office,” said Carr.
“This isn’t a victimless crime – it’s draining taxpayer dollars and hurting patients. Here in Georgia, we won’t look the other way – we’re recovering every dollar and taking action against those who cheat the system.”
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In Athens-Clarke County, Sherry Waldrop, 64, of Winterville, was indicted on 10 counts of Medicaid Fraud. Prosecutors allege Waldrop, who had served as a personal care assistant for a Medicaid recipient in the self-directed care waiver option, continued reporting time after the patient cancelled her services. She is accused of defrauding Medicaid of $10,596.06. Evidence in the case was presented to a grand jury on May 5, 2026.
Gwinnett County saw two separate indictments. Siavash Jamshidi-Barzi, 62, of Sugar Hill, was indicted on two counts of Theft by Taking after prosecutors alleged he submitted timesheets to Atlanta Elderly Home Care for work in 2022 and 2023 that he did not perform. The alleged loss exceeds $6,500.
Also in Gwinnett County, Sade Fisher, 32, of Duluth, was indicted on seven counts of Medicaid Fraud. Authorities allege Fisher billed for care that was not provided to a Medicaid recipient enrolled in the self-directed care waiver option, resulting in an alleged loss of $10,594.90.
In Houston County, Tenesha Dykes, 47, of Warner Robins, was indicted on four counts of Medicaid Fraud. Investigators allege she submitted timesheets for services not rendered, defrauding the program of $8,527.16.
In Richmond County, Mikael Pettersend, 44, of Augusta, was indicted on four counts of Identity Fraud and one count of Theft by Taking. He is accused of billing for services for a Medicaid patient who was no longer under his care, with the alleged fraud totaling $4,871.
Carr’s office said no further details about the investigations or indictments can be released at this time. Since Carr first took office, the Medicaid Fraud and Patient Protection Division has secured more than 100 convictions tied to Medicaid fraud and the abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults, along with nearly $26 million in criminal restitution orders and more than $138 million in civil settlements and judgments.
Officials stressed that indictments are allegations only. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
