FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
June 18, 2014
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
Alabama Attorney General
AG ANNOUNCES ARREST OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA DENTIST;
PARTNER PLEADED GUILTY TO SIMILAR MEDICAID FRAUD CHARGES
(MONTGOMERY) Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrest today
of a Southwest Alabama dentist on charges of Medicaid fraud for actions to which his
partner pleaded guilty last week. Dr. William Britt Morris surrendered this morning to
the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and was released on $30,000 bond. Dr. Jimmy
C. White was convicted on June 11. The two dentists have offices in Butler and Grove
Hill.
The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit presented evidence to a
Montgomery County grand jury resulting in an indictment * on June 13 charging
Morris with 59 total counts of alleged violations against the Alabama Medicaid Agency.
The charges include 58 counts of filing a false claim with the Alabama Medicaid Agency
and one count of first-degree theft of property. The charges allege that Morris acted
with his partner, White, to defraud the Alabama Medicaid Agency of approximately
half a million dollars since 2009 when they went into business together. It is alleged
that Morris and White performed unapproved procedures and then fraudulently billed
them as approved procedures. It is also alleged that Morris and White either did not
perform or unnecessarily performed other procedures.
The filing false claims charges are unclassified felonies with a maximum sentence
of five years imprisonment for each count. The first-degree theft of property charge is a
class B felony which carries a sentence of two to 20 years imprisonment.
White pleaded guilty last week, pursuant to a plea agreement, to one count of
attempted Medicaid fraud. He was sentenced to one year, which was suspended for a term
of one year of probation. In addition, White paid $36,812.54 in restitution, agreed to be
permanently excluded from the Alabama Medicaid Program and agreed to testify against his
partner. All information regarding these two doctors has been forwarded to the Alabama
Board of Dental Examiners, which will determine if their dental licenses will be revoked.
Attorney General Strange commended the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
for its steadfast investigation and prosecution of these cases, noting in
particular Assistant Attorney General Jon Moody who is assigned to prosecute
the matter.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
–30–
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
