Agency obtained millions in Indiana Medicaid fraud scheme, docs show

INDIANAPOLIS — Four people are facing multiple charges for their alleged roles in a scheme that investigators say enabled a home health agency based in Indianapolis to receive over $10 million in fraudulent funds from Indiana’s Medicaid program.

According to court documents obtained by NewsNation local affiliate FOX59/CBS4, 26-year-old Faith Casas and 39-year-old Alexander Byrnes face the following preliminary charges:

• 16 counts of Fraud (Level 4 Felonies)
• 35 counts of Fraud (Level 5 Felonies)
• Fraud (Level 6 Felony)

Efforts to conceal ownership

On April 25, 2025, an investigator with the Indiana Attorney General’s Office began investigating the trio after the Indiana Department of Health received a complaint alleging that Byrnes, in his capacity as the owner of Senior Home Care, had approved fake caregiver hours into the company’s reporting system for any unused client hours. The complaint also asserted that Byrnes and the company had prior charges for Medicaid fraud.

The anonymous tip claimed that, if the caregiver was absent, clients would be sent money for the caregiver’s hours via Cash App. Court documents revealed that certified data from Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and the Managed Care Entities that were contracted to provide portions of the Indiana Medicaid program, Senior Home Care received $10,922,435.54 between September 2023 and August 2025.

The company, which was created on May 8, 2023, provides waiver services within the Indiana Medicaid program for attendant care, home and community assistance and transportation, court documents said.

Investigators accuse Byrnes of intentionally hiding his involvement from FSSA and IDOH, with Casas posing as the owner of Senior Home Care in order to obtain a license and enroll as a Medicaid provider before going to receive over $10 million in reimbursements.

Prior felony convictions

Online court records indicated that Byrnes was hit with multiple charges in 2021, including fraud on financial institution, theft, counterfeiting and welfare fraud. He eventually pleaded guilty to felony counts of forgery, theft and fraud on Nov. 4, 2022.

“The conviction was in place at the time of enrolling Senior Home Care Agency as an

IHCP provider,” court documents read.

As the investigation unfolded, investigators reported finding evidence that Casas allegedly posed as the owner of Senior Home Care as part of a scheme to protect Byrnes’ status as the owner due to his prior felony convictions, with his criminal history making him ineligible.

Court documents also detailed that Casas’ only professional licensure in the state was an expired Alcoholic Beverage Employee Permit that had been issued in 2021. Investigators discovered additional evidence indicating that Byrnes was leading the operations at Senior Home Care, not Casas.

Byrnes allegedly referred to himself as the owner, managed payroll and posted the company’s income on his personal tax returns, court documents said.

“She has no known expertise in business or the medical profession,” court documents said. “The evidence collected and reviewed demonstrates that Byrnes is the beneficial owner and operator of Senior Home Care Agency. Casas’ only apparent involvement appears to be as nominee owner on paper to conceal Alexander Byrnes’ identity from the IDOH and FSSA.”

Court documents chronicled exchanges where Byrnes allegedly instructed employees to add caregiver shifts to the electronic visit verification system.

At one point during the scheme, investigators documented that around $947,000 was being deposited into a Key Bank account under Byrnes’ name every month.

International trips, personal expenses

“In contrast, Alexander Byrnes has listed wages from the DWD of $142,245.89 in 2024 and $37,499.93 in Q1 and Q2 of 2025, for a projected 2025 salary of approximately $150,000. Further, Byrnes, as the only signatory on the account, was paying, at times, more than $100,000 per month to American Express from the business account.”

Court documents allege that Byrnes spent hundreds of thousands of dollars from Senior Home Care’s business accounts on luxury travel, nightclubs and other personal expenses, including DoorDash and Uber.

• $329,956.65 on Nightclubs
• $200,000 to Kensington Vanguard National LLC
• $28,321.21 on DoorDash
• $180,423.02 on hotels
• $543,930.36 to aaNovo Custom Home Design
• $42,000.00 to Reis Nichols for gold Rolex Day Date watch
• $6,186.71 on Gucci
• $12,697.46 on Louis Vuitton
• $20,861.66 on Uber
• $14,444.08 on Prada
• $12,689.67 on Yacht Charter

Investigators found evidence that Byrnes traveled to Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Hollywood, Monaco, Ibiza, Spain, Juarez, Mexico, and Tokyo, Japan.

Search for two more suspects in the multi-year scheme

Investigators also found evidence indicating that an employee at Senior Home Care, identified as 35-year-old Cortez Crook, was arrested for his alleged role in the scheme. Investigators allege that Crook received around $70,540.46 by fraudulently recording times for attendant care that didn’t actually take place.

Investigators conducted surveillance, which led them to believe that Crook and LaShawn Wright allegedly colluded in the scheme.

The pair face two counts of fraud, with both being Level 5 Felonies. At this time, police are searching for Crook and Wright after an arrest warrant was issued for both of them on Monday.

Indiana AG charges two more for alleged Medicaid fraud

On Wednesday, the office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced that two others had been charged in relation ot the alleged Medicaid fraud scheme.

• Nichole Hoyt
  • 41-year-old accused of 10 counts of fraud as a Level 6 felony
  • Loss to Medicaid was around $223,871.51
• Jessica Schoof
  • 45-year-old accused of 10 counts of fraud as a Level 6 felony
  • Loss to Medicaid was around $223,871.51

What happens next?

Online court records indicate that Byrnes was placed under arrest on Tuesday, with a cash bond worth $100,000 being submitted to the clerk’s office later that same day. Byrnes is set to appear on Thursday, July 23, in Marion Superior Court 27 for his initial hearing in the case.

Meanwhile, a warrant was issued out of Marion Superior Court 27 for the arrest of Casas. As of this article’s publication, she had not been arrested.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.