ST. LOUIS – A U.S. District Judge sentenced a St. Louis man on Tuesday for using his brother’s identity to obtain money from a Missouri healthcare program.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Missouri said Christopher J. Spencer, 46, used his brother’s name to obtain over $56,000 from a Missouri Medicaid Program between June 2018 and February 2022.
Prosecutors said his brother had lived with him in the past and was recognized as a personal care provider for Spencer. His brother would submit time sheets for providing personal care services such as housekeeping, preparing meals, bathing, grooming, and transportation.
After Spencer’s brother moved out in 2018 and was no longer providing personal care, Spencer continued submitting time sheets and visiting records, as if his brother were still a personal care attendant.
Prosecutors said Spencer also forged his brother’s signature and submitted paperwork to a Medicaid vendor listing his brother as a personal care provider.
Spenser also kept the debit card meant to reimburse his brother from the Medicaid program and instead used it for personal expenses like bills, rent, groceries, shopping, and hotels.
According to prosecutors, he also used his brother’s name and personal information to obtain loans and advances on reimbursement payments from a Medicaid vendor.
Prosecutors said Spencer pleaded guilty to five counts of making false statements regarding health care benefits in March.
Spencer was sentenced to six months of incarceration and six months of house arrest. He was also ordered to repay $56,173 to Missouri’s Medicaid Program.
