Attorney General Marty Jackley breaks down Medicaid fraud indictment

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - On Friday, Attorney General Marty Jackley announced another case of fraud.

The state’s highest law enforcement officer said this time, the private sector is involved, and the state’s Medicaid program has been targeted.

Forty-eight-year-old Pierre Native Sharon Monson is accused of stealing more than $500,000 by defrauding the program, meaning, if found guilty she could be serving up to 42 years.

The charges stem from May 2018 to January 2024. During that time, Monson owned At Home Nursing in Pierre.

Authorities said she allegedly did not provide certain services that were paid for using Medicaid dollars.

“This is a situation that was discovered through patient complaints, our Medicaid fraud unit investigated it and we’ve taken what I believe is the appropriate action for the charges of $588,000 for in-home nursing services that were not provided,” Attorney General Marty Jackley said.

Monson is charged with six total felony counts: Three counts of Unlawfully Obtaining Benefits or Payments from a Medical Assistance Program, and one count each of Perjury to Obtain State Benefits, Failure to Keep Necessary Records Upon Which Medicated Claim is Based, and Aggravated Grand Theft.

Aggravated Grand Theft is the same charge former Department of Social Services Employee Lonna Carroll was found guilty of in early April, in a case also dealing with state funds.

“We’ve obviously prioritized this and would expect within the next week or so, that initial appearance for the court to make a determination of any bond conditions,” Jackley said.

Jackley said Monson is presumed innocent under the US Constitution.

Jackley also added that the defendant has not been arrested yet, but a surrender is expected in the very near future.