Georgia – Elizabeth Sue Ivester, 62, of Warner Robins, Georgia, is accused by the federal government with running a huge Medicaid fraud conspiracy that reportedly stole more than $5.4 million from the state’s Medicaid program. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and the Department of Justice both announced the indictment. It comes after a long investigation into fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that were never ordered or given to patients.
The Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown is coordinating a huge national effort to stop health care fraud. The case against Ivester, who owned and ran Liberty Medical, Inc., is part of this operation. Ivester is being charged with Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, Health Care Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft, according to federal prosecutors, and confirmed by the Georgia AG’s office in a press release.
Investigators said that Ivester took advantage of the Medicaid system by exploiting the identification numbers of Medicaid patients to file fake claims for DME, like wheelchairs, walkers, and braces. Prosecutors claim she lied when she said that one doctor had purchased more than 77,000 pieces of equipment, even though the doctor didn’t ask for the goods and they weren’t delivered to the right patients.
Authorities emphasized the seriousness of the alleged fraud, which not only cost taxpayers millions but also undermined the integrity of a program designed to support Georgia’s most vulnerable residents.
“Prosecuting Medicaid fraud is a top priority for our office, and we’re proud to work with our federal partners in this effort,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “Defrauding Medicaid is the same as stealing taxpayer dollars, and we will hold violators accountable.”
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, Carr’s Medicaid Fraud and Patient Protection Division, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) all worked together to get the indictment.
“The scale of today’s Takedown is unprecedented, and so is the harm we’re confronting. Individuals who attempt to steal from the federal health care system and put vulnerable patients at risk will be held accountable,” said HHS-OIG Acting Inspector General Juliet T. Hodgkins.
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On May 14, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Ivester with a crime. HHS-OIG agents took her into custody, and on June 17, she went to court in Macon to face U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle. The prosecution will be led by Tarrea D. Williams, who works for the Georgia Attorney General’s Office as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
This case is one of hundreds that were part of this year’s coordinated takedown. So far, 324 people have been charged with crimes for taking advantage of programs meant for the elderly and disabled. Officials say the statewide crackdown shows a renewed commitment to protecting public money and making sure that health care resources get to the people who really need them.
