FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
January 30, 2012
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Suzanne Webb (334) 242-7351
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES CONVICTION FOR THEFT
OF OVER $100,000 FROM WETUMPKA NURSING HOME
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Luther Strange today announced the
conviction this morning of a former employee of a Wetumpka nursing home for the
theft of $115,734.61 of residents’ funds from the facility.
“I am proud of the outstanding work performed by our Medicaid Fraud Control
Unit to combat theft and exploitation of those in nursing homes,” said Attorney General
Strange. “In this case, the defendant stole from people who were especially vulnerable
and whose resources are scarce and badly needed. I am pleased that he has been held to
account and will be punished for his crime.”
Joseph James Feagin Jr., 33, a resident of Wetumpka, pleaded guilty today before
Elmore County Circuit Judge John Bush to one count of first-degree theft of property,
An investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
determined that, while Feagin was employed as a financial specialist at Wetumpka
Health and Rehabilitation, he accessed a number of resident accounts in the facility’s
computer database that had credit balances and changed the payee information on the
accounts. Feagin then submitted refund requests on the accounts and had checks sent to
himself, his boyfriend and five other acquaintances.
Nursing home officials immediately contacted the Attorney General’s Medicaid
Fraud Control Unit and refunded the money once the theft was discovered.
Judge Bush set Feagin’s sentencing for March 20. Feagin faces a sentence of 10 to
99 years or life imprisonment as a habitual offender.
Attorney General Strange praised the nursing home management for its quick
action once the theft was discovered. He also commended the Medicaid Fraud Control
Unit for its investigation and the Unit’s director, Assistant Attorney General Bruce
Lieberman, who prosecuted the case.
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501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
