Former Jasper Co. Official Pleads Guilty to Document Fraud
By: Briauna Brown
Updated: November 6, 2012
SPRINGFIELD, MO--- Rita Frances Hunter, 60, of Joplin, pleaded guilty to the charge of document fraud, which was part of a scheme in which she illegally obtained federal benefits for her wards.
Hunter was the elected Public Administrator for Jasper County from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2008. By pleading guilty, Hunter admitted that her scheme involved a total fraud of $70,000 to $120,000. Hunter directed her employees to submit materially false Medicaid applications for wards under the custody of the Public Administrators office. These applications falsely stated that the wards had assets below the $1,000 threshold to be eligible to receive Medicaid benefits, when in fact, the ward had more than $1,000 in assets.
Hunter is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
Hunter was the elected Public Administrator for Jasper County from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2008. By pleading guilty, Hunter admitted that her scheme involved a total fraud of $70,000 to $120,000. Hunter directed her employees to submit materially false Medicaid applications for wards under the custody of the Public Administrators office. These applications falsely stated that the wards had assets below the $1,000 threshold to be eligible to receive Medicaid benefits, when in fact, the ward had more than $1,000 in assets.
Hunter is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
