4 Kentuckians charged in national Medicaid fraud takedown

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — Five Kentuckians have been charged in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicaid and steal controlled substances.

In a July 1 announcement from the Department of Justice, attorneys allege that the following were found complicit in connection with the DOJ’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

• Ashley Barnett, 41, a veterinarian from Louisville
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• Laura Webb, 37, a veterinarian from Springfield
• Kristina Coomer, 43, a pharmacy employee from Louisville
• Matthew Elkins, 40, a certified nurse anesthetist from Crestwood

Barnett and Webb, who the DOJ reported are veterinarians, were accused of illegally using the DEA number of someone else. Barnett was also accused of prescribing controlled substances to dogs, some of which were said to be dead or made up so that the drugs could go to her and another alleged conspirator from Indiana.

Coomer, who the DOJ said works with oxycodone as a pharmacy employee, allegedly took the drugs from the pharmacy before they were made available for purchase.

Elkins, a certified nurse anesthetist, was said to have tampered with a pre-filled capped syringe prescribed to a patient by swapping some of the ingredients with another liquid. The investigation also alleged that he stole three injectable vials with a “detectable amount of fentanyl” via “misrepresentation, deception, and subterfuge.”

The charges announced are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement initiative that led to 324 defendants being charged, according to the release. The schemes involved over $14.6 billion being submitted in false billing reports, as well as nearly 15 million controlled substances being “illegally diverted.”

“Health care providers must be trusted to appropriately prescribe highly-addictive medications only to those in need. Doing otherwise only exacerbates the opioid epidemic that has ravaged our Commonwealth and destroyed families,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “As alleged in each of the charging documents, these defendants breached that trust and illegally diverted controlled substances. While these defendants are professionally obligated to help communities, the charging documents allege that they have unfortunately done the opposite. They will be held to account.”

The DOJ claimed that the four were part of the nationwide efforts to line their pockets while stealing from programs entrusted to care for the elderly and disabled.

“This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”

As part of the national takedown, the DOJ announced that the U.S. seized over $254 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets.

For a full breakdown of each of the four Kentuckians’ alleged roles in the national takedown, click here.