Federal prosecutors say the Life Touch Medicaid Fraud scheme billed $12.7 million to Medicaid while paying kickbacks to patients battling addiction in Eastern North Carolina.
NEW BERN, N.C. — A social media influencer from Eastern North Carolina but living in Houston – is now headed to federal prison after authorities uncovered a multi-million dollar Medicaid fraud scheme tied to a behavioral health company operating in Kinston and Goldsboro.
Federal prosecutors say four people connected to Life Touch LLC have been sentenced after investigators determined the company submitted more than $12.7 million in fraudulent Medicaid claims.
Among those sentenced is Brandon Eugene Sims, who is known on social media and built a following online before becoming caught up in the federal case.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the scheme also involved over $1 million in kickbacks paid to Medicaid patients struggling with substance use disorders.
PATIENTS ALLEGEDLY LURED WITH GIFT CARDS
Investigators say the group — Keke Komeko Johnson, Francine Sims Super, Brandon Eugene Sims, and Kimberly Mable Sims — operated Life Touch and a related laboratory business connected to the testing services.
Prosecutors say patients were offered incentives like gift cards to participate in substance abuse treatment programs and frequent drug screenings.
Authorities allege that once those patients were enrolled, the company submitted large volumes of claims to Medicaid for testing and treatment services that were unnecessary or improperly billed.
Federal investigators also say records were altered to mislead auditors reviewing the company’s billing activity.
FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCES
A federal judge in New Bern sentenced the defendants to the following prison terms:
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Keke Komeko Johnson — 6 years
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Francine Sims Super — 6 years
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Kimberly Mable Sims — 2 years
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Brandon Eugene Sims — 30 months
Prosecutors say Brandon Sims was convicted in part for failing to file federal tax returns despite receiving millions connected to the operation.
MILLIONS IN CASH, CARS, AND PROPERTY SEIZED
Federal authorities also moved to seize assets tied to the fraud investigation.
Agents confiscated about $1.3 million in cash, along with luxury vehicles including a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Chevrolet Corvette, plus additional property linked to the case.
The court also ordered Life Touch LLC to permanently shut down and imposed a $15 million financial penalty.
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SLAM THE SCHEME
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle criticized the case, saying the scheme took advantage of individuals who were trying to recover from addiction while draining taxpayer-funded programs.
