A federal judge has handed down more than 14 years in federal prison to participants in a $12.7 Million Medicaid fraud scheme that paid more than $1 Million in kickbacks to drug addict patients. The case also resulted in the permanent closure of the fake substance abuse facility that carried out the crime, a $15 Million dollar fine, and the seizure of more than $6 Million in criminal proceeds, including cash, cars, and homes.
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According to court documents, Keke Komeko Johnson, 53, of Goldsboro; Francine Sims Super, 64, of Kinston; Brandon Eugene Sims, 40, of Manvel, Texas; and Kimberly Mable Sims, 39, of Snow Hill; operated Life Touch, LLC, a purported substance abuse facility operating in Kinston and Goldsboro, and 1st Choice Healthcare Services, a urine drug screening company. Between 2018 and 2023, Inmates Johnson and Super oversaw payments of more than $1 Million in illegal kickbacks to Life Touch’s Medicaid patients, who were drug users. They paid these kickbacks to lure patients to show up for costly substance abuse and lab services that Inmate Johnson billed to Medicaid on behalf of Life Touch and 1st Choice. Inmate Sims, Inmate Super’s daughter, owned 1st Choice Healthcare, and paid Medicaid kickbacks to Inmates Super and Johnson for fake lab services ordered by Life Touch, LLC. Meanwhile, Inmate Brandon Sims, who owned Life Touch and resided in Texas, received Millions in illegal proceeds from the Life Touch operation, but failed to file or pay taxes on that money. The gift card kickback scheme resulted in more than $12.7 Million fake billings to the Medicaid program.
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The Judge sentenced Inmate Johnson, the company’s “Compliance Director,” to six years in federal prison and to pay $15,286,912.91 in restitution to North Carolina Medicaid and $331,851.00 to the IRS. On August 14, 2025, Inmate Johnson pleaded guilty to a health care fraud conspiracy, including making and receiving illegal payments, making and using materially false documents, and failing to file a tax return.
The Judge sentenced Inmate Super, the “Kinston office manager,” to six years in federal prison, and to pay $15,286,912.91 in restitution to North Carolina Medicaid and $373,810.00 to the IRS. She previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks, healthcare fraud, and making and using materially false documents. She also pleaded guilty to failure to file a tax return.
The Judge sentenced Inmate Kimberly Sims to two years in federal prison and to pay $1,845,276.95 in restitution to North Carolina Medicaid and $207,383.00 to the IRS. She previously pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to paying illegal kickbacks, healthcare fraud, making and using materially false documents, and filing a false tax return.
The Judge sentenced Life Touch, LLC, to pay a $15 Million fine, to dissolve, and serve five years of probation and repay $12,762,511.30 in restitution to the North Carolina Medicaid program. Life Touch, LLC, previously pleaded guilty to health care fraud, and the owner, Inmate Brandon Sims pleaded guilty to failing to file federal tax returns. The Judge sentenced Inmate Brandon Sims to two and a half years and six months in federal prison, and to pay $1,892,919.40 in restitution to the IRS. Inmate Brandon Sims also forfeit all traceable proceeds of the Life Touch scheme to the United States.
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The post Over $12 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme Leads to 14 Years of Prison for Substance Abuse Facility, Owner, Compliance Officer, and Office Manager appeared first on American Renaissance.
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