admin
A federal judge in Cheyenne this week put a spotlight on Medicaid fraud by sentencing a Florida mother and her daughter and ordering them to pay more than $800,000 in restitution. The case centers on alleged billing schemes tied to Wyoming Medicaid and the military’s Tricare program, and it should remind taxpayers why vigilance — and tougher penalties — matter.
Sentences and restitution ordered
Tera Marie Campbell, owner of The Olive Branch, LLC, received a 36-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. Her daughter, Tayler Ann Krauss, was sentenced to two years of home confinement. The court ordered the pair to repay $735,717.63 to Wyoming Medicaid; Campbell also owes $135,890.91 to Tricare, with Krauss potentially on the hook for up to $71,509.44 of that total. Taken with a separate North Dakota restitution order tied to the same clinic, their total repayment obligation tops roughly $800,000.
How the scheme allegedly worked
The Olive Branch clinic and the billing red flags
Prosecutors say The Olive Branch, a behavioral health clinic that served children with autism, was used to submit fraudulent Medicaid claims. The allegations include billing for uncertified care, upcoding services to get higher payments, and charging for visits that never happened — even on days the clinic was closed or when the owner was reportedly abroad. Investigators also cite falsified supervision records and reliance on untrained employees, while the daughter is accused of handling medical billing and paperwork that helped the fraud continue.
Investigators, prosecutors and the message sent
This prosecution was a joint effort: the Wyoming Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the FBI, and the Department of Defense’s investigative arm worked together, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Kirchefer prosecuted the case. U.S. Attorney Darin D. Smith and Wyoming Attorney General Keith G. Kautz touted the result, and Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentences. The message from law enforcement is clear — siphoning off taxpayer dollars intended for vulnerable kids and military families won’t be tolerated.
Taxpayers should applaud the conviction, but not get complacent. Medicaid fraud drains funds from health programs that millions rely on, and it often requires auditing and active reporting to catch. If anything good comes from this, it’s a reminder that the system needs more watchdogs, stiffer consequences, and less tolerance for clinics that turn care into a cash register. Justice was served here — now let’s keep the pressure on to prevent the next scheme.
