MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV) – A 52-year-old man from Wisconsin was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison on March 10 for Medicaid fraud while being ordered to pay nearly $3 million in restitution.
A release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin states that Lenard R. Monroe was sentenced to 132 months for Medicaid fraud, violations of the antikickback statute, wire fraud, and money laundering. Monroe was found guilty on all charges in October 2025 during a jury trial.
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Authorities say that over a three-year period, Monroe’s former business, Wellness Personal Care Service, falsely billed Medicaid for thousands of hours of home healthcare services that were never performed.
Monroe also allegedly paid a codefendant more than $600,000 in illegal kickbacks and used his status as a registered Medicaid provider to fraudulently apply for and receive almost a quarter of a million dollars in COVID relief funds.
It was also reported that Monroe spent money from his fraud scheme to make ‘extravagant’ personal purchases that included a Dodge Demon drag racing car.
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“Fraud like this takes resources from every one of us, especially those Americans most in need of the public’s help,” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “The strong sentence in this case not only holds the defendant accountable but also sends a powerful message to other potential thieves who would defraud the goodwill of the American people.”
During Monroe’s sentencing hearing, he was also ordered to pay $2,543,216.62 to Wisconsin Medicaid and $247,167.90 to the United States Department of Health and Human Service’s Health Resources and Services Administration in restitution.
“COVID relief funds were meant to be a lifeline to keep legitimate businesses open, employees paid, and communities afloat during a national crisis,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Leonard Monroe saw that lifeline as an opportunity to steal.”
No additional details were provided.
