Attorney General Stumbo Announces Guilty Plea and Sentencing of Jackson Optician

FRANKFORT, KY (February 10, 2006) – Attorney General Greg Stumbo announced today that Marcella Wright, an optician practicing in Jackson, Kentucky pled guilty to two misdemeanor counts of fraudulently billing Medicaid. As the Commonwealth recommended, Wright, age 36, was today sentenced to 12 months on each count with restitution of $168,913.34 to be paid over the course of her probation. As a condition of the plea the defendant will be precluded from participating in any federal health care program including Medicaid.

The case was prosecuted by Lettricea Jefferson-Webb and Connie Malone, Assistant Attorneys General, with the Medicaid Fraud Unit of Stumbo’s office. Kentucky Bureau of Investigation agent Mitch Parker investigated the case. Suspected fraud can be reported to this unit by calling the Attorney General’s tip line at 1-877-ABUSE TIP (1-877-228-7384).