Three Arrested for TennCare Fraud in Dyer County
DYERSBURG, Tenn. – Three people have been arrested and charged with TennCare fraud after a round-up that resulted in 37 people arrested on indictments for drug charges in Dyer County. State investigators identified the three people arrested for TennCare fraud as: -Jay Lee Burton, 54, of Dyersburg, charged with TennCare fraud and selling Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance. Burton is accused of using TennCare to obtain the painkiller, later selling a portion to an undercover agent. -Charles D. Gray, 51, of Bogota, charged with TennCare fraud and selling Baclofen, a muscle relaxer. He is accused of using TennCare to obtain the drugs, later selling a portion to an undercover agent. -Cynthia Joan Hale, 55, of Hornbeak, charged with TennCare fraud and two counts of selling the painkiller Morphine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Hale is accused of using TennCare to obtain Morphine and on twice selling a portion to an undercover agent. According to a news release, the indictments came as a result of a 10 month undercover operation that focused primarily on the selling of illegal prescription drugs, led by Dyersburg police. According to the Office of Inspector of General, four people of the 57 people indicted were charged with TennCare fraud. The fourth was not named. TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison. District Attorney General Phillip Bivens is prosecuting.
