Office of the Inspector General Investigates Fraud and Abuse in Purchase of Care Program
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 23, 2029) – Maryland Inspector General Z. Scott announced today that the state will recover more than $27,000 from four Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigations of fraud and abuse in the State’s Purchase of Care (POC) program, which provides funding for child care services to low-income families.The recovered money, which will be repaid to the program, is the result of court-ordered settlements of child care fraud cases across the state within the past 60 days. The cases stem from OIG investigations that were presented to local prosecutors for disposition.
“These actions demonstrate the effectiveness of OIG investigators in aggressively targeting and eliminating fraud and abuse and protecting the taxpayers of the State of Maryland,” Inspector General Z. Scott said. “This program received very little oversight in the past. That has changed and these cases should cause those who are defrauding the program to take notice that their fraudulent conduct will not be tolerated.”
Each case presented to local prosecutors by OIG investigators resulted in a final court action.
· Rachelle Brown was convicted in Baltimore County for defrauding the pOC program. As part of her diversion agreement, she is required to make restitution in the amount of $7,312.
· Monique Ware-Davis was charged in Baltimore City with defrauding the POC program. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months. Her sentence was probated to two years and she has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,942.
· A Howard County resident agreed to make restitution, to avoid prosecution, in the amount of $5,540 for defrauding the POC program. Restitution is complete.
· Dana Gibson, of Baltimore City, entered into a diversion agreement on the condition that she pays restitution in the amount of $7,800 for illegally receiving child care funds.
The mission of the Office of Inspector General is to ensure that agencies, boards and commissions directly responsible to the Governor maintain the highest standards of integrity and accountability. The Office investigates complaints of violations of any law, rule or regulation or abuse of authority or other forms of misconduct within the offices, boards and commissions that report to the Governor. Complaints received by the office are reviewed and evaluated to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe the underlying allegations, if true, would constitute a violation of any law, rule or regulation on the part of a state officer, agency, employee or entity doing business with the State of Maryland.