A homicide investigation is underway in Bullitt County after a man was found dead on an interstate exit ramp.

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Shepherdsville Police said around 2 p.m. Saturday, the dispatch center in Bullitt County received several calls about an incident on the 113 exit ramp from a rest area back onto I-65. When officers arrived, they said they found the victim dead on the ramp.

Investigators said a person of interest was being questioned at the scene.

Lexington Police are searching for two men who robbed a Dollar Tree store Friday.

It happened at 9:30 p.m. at the Alexandria Drive location.

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Police say the suspects walked into the store, one man pulled a handgun on the clerk, and both got away with cash and the clerk’s cell phone.

Lexington police say they’re working a jewelry heist tonight in which a smash-and-grab team of 3 black males broke into a display case at the Reynolds Road Jared store and made off with a significant amount of diamonds.

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Police say the thieves used a sledgehammer to smash the case and access the diamonds, then fled in an undetermined direction in a maroon Dodge Caravan. Although employees were reportedly present at the time of the heist, there are no reports of injuries.

Acting United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. today announced the indictment and arrest of three Louisville co-conspirators charged with a single count of health care fraud.

Cynthia Allen, age 27, Terry Cotton, age 36, and Terry Jenkins, age 36, are charged with conspiring with each other to recruit individuals to participate in a November 27, 2012, staged automobile accident, where one vehicle intentionally struck another vehicle. The object and purpose of the conspiracy was to obtain money and property under the custody and control of health care benefit programs, and to receive controlled substances.

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In furtherance of the conspiracy, Allen directed staged, accident passenger participants to seek chiropractic treatment at the clinic at which she was employed. Allen and Cotton then directed passenger participants to seek pain management treatment, including receiving pain medication, at Injury Rehab Specialists of Lou., PLLC, where Allen subsequently became employed. As a result of these acts, among others, automobile insurance companies were billed for and paid for unnecessary treatment at the chiropractic clinic, Injury Rehab Specialists of Lou., PLLC, and other medical providers.

Further, Jenkins is charged with health care fraud for fraudulently submitting a settlement demand for $14,882.29 to Safe Auto Insurance Company for alleged injuries he sustained in a staged automobile accident, and receiving a settlement of $11,000.00.

Further, Terry Cotton is charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. According to the indictment, between June 20, 2012, and continuing through January 17, 2014, Cotton and others, conspired with each other to knowingly and intentionally distribute and dispense, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Hydrocodone, a schedule III controlled substance.

If convicted at trial, the defendants could be sentenced to no more than 20 years in prison, and three years of supervised release and fined $500,000.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Ansari and Lettricea Jefferson-Webb and is being investigated by the Louisville Metro Police Department and the FBI.

Acting United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. today announced the indictment and arrests of owners and staff of Louisville area chiropractic clinics and a medical billing corporation on charges of health care fraud and identity theft. The scheme involved unsuspecting chiropractors, patients, insurance companies, and area employers—namely Jeffboat, LLC located in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Over an eight-month-long period, the defendants are accused of scheming to fraudulently bill insurance companies $5 million for services never performed that cost Jeffboat a loss of approximately $1.3 million.

According to the eight count indictment, beginning no later than November 25, 2013, and continuing through July 18, 2014, five named defendants recruited unsuspecting chiropractors to either open chiropractic clinics or to staff existing chiropractic clinics in the Louisville area. Their intent was to fraudulently bill insurance companies from the clinics.Each chiropractor provided his/her National Provider Identifier (NPI) number to defendants Claudia Lopez and Oskel Lezcano in order to credential the clinics with various insurance companies. Thereafter, the defendants recruited employees from Jeffboat and others to seek chiropractic services from the clinics. However, unbeknownst to the patients and the chiropractors, the clinics billed over $5,000,000 for methocarbamol injections (a muscle relaxant),using the patients’ names, dates of birth, insurance/policy numbers, addresses, and patient IDs/Social Security Numbers without the patients’ knowledge and for injections that were never provided.

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The clinics used Lezcano’s billing companies, Gold Hands Medical Billing Corp and Gold Hands Medical Billing B, Inc., to process the fraudulent billings for payment through Jeffboat’s third-party administrator, United Health Care Services, Inc. In addition, multiple clinics billed for the fraudulent injections using the same patients’ names.

Claudia Lopez, Oskel Lezcano, Ariel Borrego-Hernandez, Sergio Betancourt, and Ledinson Chavez operated and controlled multiple chiropractic clinics in the Louisville area including: Xpress Diagnostics Center, Inc.; Prudential Chiropractic Medical Center, PLLC; Klondike Chiropractic Medical Center, LLC; Be Well Chiropractic Center, Corp.; Chiropractic and Medical Center, LLC, even though the clinics were placed in various chiropractors’ names.

All five defendants are charged with one count of health care fraud. Lopez and Lezcano are both charged with additional counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted at trial, the defendants could be sentenced to no more than ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a three year period of supervised release. Defendant Lopez could be sentenced to an additional four years in prison and fined an additional $500,000 for a conviction on the identity theft charges. Defendant Lezcano could be sentenced to an additional 10 years in prison and fined an additional $500,000 for a conviction on the identity theft charges.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Ansari and Lettricea Jefferson-Webb and is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Louisville Metro Police Department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

A Kentuckiana physician charged with prescribing pain medications that resulted in the deaths of five patients, unlawful distribution or dispensing of controlled substances and health care fraud, has been charged with conspiracy, money laundering and an additional count of health care fraud announced Acting United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.

Jaime Guerrero, age 47, formerly a medical physician with offices in Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana, was charged by superseding indictment on June 16, 2015.

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According to the superseding indictment, beginning no later than November 1, 2009, and continuing through January 1, 2013, Guerrero conspired with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute and dispense, schedule II and III controlled substances to patients, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice.

Further, beginning in December, 2009, and continuing through May 2014, Guerrero allegedly unlawfully prescribed and dispensed schedule II and schedule III pain medications to 30 patients, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice.

Further, the superseding indictment charges Guerrero with dispensing Oxycodone, a schedule II controlled substance, to K.J., between June 6, 2011, through August 25, 2011, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in K.J.’s death on or about August 29, 2011. That Guerrero intentionally distributed and dispensed, Methadone, a schedule II controlled substance, to D.N., between December 15, 2009, through April 1, 2010, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in D.N.’s death on or about April 5, 2011. That Guerrero knowingly and intentionally distributed and dispensed, Oxycodone, to R.S., between December 10, 2009, through February 9, 2010, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in R.S.’s death on or about February 18, 2010. That Guerrero dispensed Oxycodone, to P.F. December 28, 2009, and continuing through February 20, 2012, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in P.F.’s death on or about March 3, 2012. That Guerrero knowingly and intentionally distributed and dispensed, Hydrocodone, a schedule III controlled substance, to S.O., between January 6, 2010, and continuing through September 16, 2011, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice, which resulted in S.O.’s death on or about September 24, 2011.

Guerrero is further charged with three counts of health care fraud for fraudulently billing various health care benefit programs and for submitting fraudulent claims for patient health care counseling. Specifically, on May 26, 2011, June 15, 2011, and June 22, 2011, Guerrero allegedly saw more than 100 patients on each of the dates, by himself, and spent approximately 3 minutes or less with each patient, and fraudulently billed various health care benefit programs, for office visits at a higher code than the service provided. And for directing a staff member, who was not a licensed counselor, to provide drug education classes to patients, and falsely and fraudulently, bill various health care benefit programs, by submitting claims for 15-30 minute counseling sessions while the defendant was out of the office. In addition, the superseding indictment charges Guerrero with falsely and fraudulently submitting over 100 claims to various health care benefit programs for office visits at a higher code than the service provided; for office visits that were not medically necessary or within the course of usual medical practice; submitting claims for services that were not sufficiently documented in the patient’s medical record; and making claims for office visits as though a physician saw the patient, when in fact, a nurse practitioner saw the patient.

The superseding indictment includes a money laundering charge. Guerrero is accused of redeeming (paying the taxes) a building located at 1201 West Wall Street in Jeffersonville, Indiana, with $89,556.25 in cash derived from unlawful activity—the unlawful dispensing and distribution of controlled substances and health care fraud.

If convicted at trial, Guerrero faces up to life in prison, a financial fine and a period of supervised release.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Ansari and Lettricea Jefferson-Webb and is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Indiana and Kentucky Medicaid Fraud Control Units, and Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD).

Acting United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. today announced the results of a health care fraud sweep in the Western District of Kentucky as part of the largest national Medicare fraud takedown led by the Justice Department and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Medicare Fraud Strike Force. The three day sweep, in the Western District of Kentucky, resulted in charges against 12 individuals, including three medical physicians, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes, involving approximately $7.8 million in fraudulent billings.

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“Losses caused by health care fraud are staggering, amounting to tens of billions of dollars every year,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Kuhn. “Sadly, these fraud losses are passed along to the rest of us in the form of increased health care costs. For that reason, investigating and prosecuting health care fraud is one of the Department of Justice’s highest priorities. As these cases demonstrate, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are working together to turn the tide by prosecuting more fraudsters and recovering more money. And our enforcement efforts make great financial sense, too: when we pursue fraud against federal health care programs, we know we recover almost eight dollars for every dollar we expend in investigative and prosecution costs.”

“The Healthcare industry is massive and as a result Health Care Fraud is big business for criminals,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Howard S. Marshall. “HCF is one of our top Complex Financial Crime priorities and we continue to dedicate significant investigative resources to address it. We work closely with our local, state and federal partners; I am proud of our investigators who work hard to hold these criminals accountable.”

“Kentucky is facing an epidemic of prescription drug abuse,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General in Atlanta. “Physicians who overprescribe narcotics not only waste valuable taxpayer dollars and defraud Medicare and Medicaid, they also threaten the health and safety of their patients.”

In the Western District of Kentucky, three physicians were charged in separate cases. The charges included billing for services at a higher code than the service provided, prescribing pain medications that resulted in the deaths of patients, and billing for non FDA approved IUDs.

Further, in a separate scheme, five defendants were charged with operating chiropractic clinics that falsely billed health care benefit programs approximately $5 million for injections that patients never received. Another charged scheme involved the alleged staging of an auto accident for passenger participants to seek unnecessary pain management treatment. (Indictments and press releases are attached)

Nationally, the sweep resulted in charges against 243 individuals, including 46 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $712 million in false billings. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also suspended a number of providers using its suspension authority as provided in the Affordable Care Act. The coordinated takedown is the largest in Strike Force history, both in terms of the number of defendants charged and loss amount.

U.S. Attorney Kuhn acknowledged and credited the law enforcement agencies investigating these cases: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, FDA – Office of Criminal Investigations, Kentucky State Police (KSP), Indiana and Kentucky Medicaid Fraud Control Units, Warren County Drug Task Force and Louisville Metro Police Department.

State Police and Munfordville Police Officers arrested a fugitive from Arkansas wanted on attempted murder charges.

State Troopers at the Post in Bowling Green tried to pull over Trent Tyrone Smith on I-65 just before 6 Thursday evening. Officials from Arkansas tipped off troopers that he may be in the area.

Smith is wanted on several charges, including attempted murder, in Arkansas. Troopers say Smith refused to stop and was driving recklessly. State Troopers from Post 4 in Elizabethtown blew out the tires on Smith’s tires around the 86 and 88 mile markers on I-65 in the northbound lanes. Smith went off the road both times and nearly hit troopers trying to avoid the tire deflation devices.

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He finally lost control of his car and crashed into a concrete barrier. Police were able to arrest him without incident after the crash.

Smith is charged with being a fugitive from another state, 2 counts of attempted murder of a police officer, fleeing and evading, DUI, reckless driving and several other traffic violations. He was taken to the Hardin County jail. No injuries were reported.

Police continue to search for five suspects after three people were robbed in Lexington Thursday night.

Police say five men approached the three victims along Codell Drive, flashed a gun and demanded cash. The robbers hid the gun and fled. It remains unclear if they got away with anything.

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Nobody was hurt.

Officers say a language barrier made it difficult to piece together exactly what happened.

Police say officers captured a suspect dubbed the “Sock Hat Bandit” after a bank robbery in northern Kentucky Thursday.

Officials say a man fitting the description of a robber suspected in at least nine bank robberies spanning three states walked into the Fifth Third Bank branch on Declaration Drive in Independence around 12:45 p.m. and handed a teller a note demanding cash. Police say the suspect left the bank with about $1,000.

A Kenton County Sheriff’s Office deputy working a crash along I-275 spotted a Honda Civic matching the suspect vehicle description. He said the fleeing robber was ramming cars along KY-17, trying to push his way through blocked traffic. The driver damaged at least two vehicles and tore the bumper off the Honda.

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Police say when the deputy got out of the car and approached the suspect, the fleeing robber accelerated toward the officer. The deputy fired three times, but did not hit the suspect.

Police say the robber continued driving to Indiana Avenue in Covington. Officials say speeds reached 100 mph during the pursuit. The suspect eventually crashed through a fence, hit a tree and abandoned the vehicle. The man then took off on foot. Police finally managed to chase the robber down along Beech Avenue and take him into custody.

Police identified the robber as Brian Parnell, 31, of Dayton, Ohio. Officers say he had cash and the note with him when they took him into custody.

Police say Parnell admitted to nine of the 10 area bank robberies.

Police dubbed the robber the “Sock Hat Bandit” because he wore different sock hats during past robberies. But Independence Police Department Capt. John Lonaker said Parnell was not wearing his signature head covering this time around.

“He was not wearing, according to video, he was not wearing the sock hat. I believe he had a hat on but it was not the sock hat,” he said.

Parnell faces numerous charges, including robbery, wanton endangerment, fleeing police and criminal mischief.