Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Arrests in Central Florida Medicaid Fraud Scheme

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Alexander McKinnie and Kara Morrison were arrested on charges related to a scheme to defraud Florida's Medicaid program.

"Medicaid fraud is a clear example of theft from taxpayers," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "In Florida, our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will safeguard public funds and aggressively pursue anyone who exploits these programs."

An investigation by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit found that McKinnie submitted tens of thousands of dollars in false claims for non-emergency medical transportation gas reimbursements for trips that never occurred.

Investigators determined that McKinnie fraudulently billed the Medicaid program for more than $65,000 in medical services that were never provided. Morrison assisted McKinnie in the fraud scheme by submitting $7,000 in false reimbursement claims.

McKinnie is charged with one count of Medicaid Provider Fraud (exceeding $50,000) and one count of Organized Scheme to Defraud. Both are first-degree felonies, punishable by up to 30 years in the Department of Corrections and a $10,000 fine.

Morrison is charged with one count of Medicaid Provider Fraud (less than $10,000) and one count of Organized Scheme to Defraud. Both are third-degree felonies punishable by up to five years in the Department of Corrections and $5,000 in fines.

Alexander McKinnie was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Kara Morrison was arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

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The Florida Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state's Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida's taxpayers. Additionally, the MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program.

The Florida MFCU is funded through a grant totaling $25,862,077 for Federal Fiscal Year 2026, from the U. S Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General. The Federal Share of these funds is 75 percent totaling $19,396,560. The State Matching Share of these funds is 25 percent totaling $6,465,517 and is funded by Florida.