Former owner of Frank's Taxi to spend 30 days in jail for Medicaid fraud

CONCORD - The former owner of Frank's Taxi pleaded guilty today to a series of charges involving Medicaid fraud.
Among the charges Edward Donnell IV, 40, of Dover, admitted to were conspiracy to make false claims, presenting false records and destruction of records in connection with fraudulent claims for non-emergency medical transportation. The hearing was held in Strafford County Superior Court.

The charges against Edward Donnell, IV, 40, of Dover, were in connection with fraudulent claims for non-emergency medical transportation services from June 2, 2015, to April 30, 2016, when he engaged in a conspiracy with his employees that led to Frank's Taxi obtaining more than $20,000 for transportation services that were never provided.

Donnell pleaded guilty to conspiring with Liudmila Bulatova, 38, Angelica Soule, 34, and David Hackney, 40, while Donnell owned Frank's Taxi, which was headquartered in Somersworth, but also served many Rochester residents.
Bulatova, Donnell's wife, was employed by Frank's Taxi and handled the company's billing, while Hackney worked as a driver. Soule was Hackney's girlfriend.
Donnell was sentenced to 12 months in the Strafford County House of Corrections, beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. with a recommendation for administrative home confinement after 30 days for conspiracy to make false claims charge, a class B felony. The court further ordered Donnell to pay restitution jointly and severally in the amount of $21,298.14 to New Hampshire Medicaid.
Donnell was also sentenced to three years at the New Hampshire State Prison for presenting false records, a class B felony, all suspended for five years from his release on the false claims charge, and to serve a consecutive one to three years at the New Hampshire State Prison for destruction of records, a class B felony, also suspended for five years.
The charges and allegations in the indictments pending against Bulatova and Soule are merely accusations.
Hackney previously pleaded guilty on March 2 to conspiracy to make false claims, a class B felony, and conspiracy to commit theft by deception, a class A felony. He is presently serving a 12-month sentence at the Strafford County House of Corrections.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes fraud by healthcare providers who treat Medicaid beneficiaries. Healthcare providers include, but are not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, dentists, pharmacies, ambulance companies, and anyone else who is paid for providing healthcare services to Medicaid beneficiaries. If you would like to report a case of provider fraud, please contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at (603) 271-1246.