A Harrison woman was sentenced today to 3½ years in prison for defrauding the MaineCare program of $4 million, according to the Maine Attorney general’s Office.

Dawn L. Solomon, 43 was sentenced in Oxford County Court today for felony theft by deception stemming from fraudulent billing she submitted to the state Medicaid health care program between 2006 and 2008.

“This $4 million fraud scheme exhibited a complete disregard for the disabled children who were used to commit it,” said Attorney General Schneider. “We are pleased to have put this unscrupulous operator out of business.”

The Department of Health and Human Services Division of Audit referred the case to the Attorney General’s Healthcare Crimes Unit in September 2009.

An investigation showed that Solomon’s company, Living Independence Network Corp. of Norway, Maine, inflated billings as much as $138,000 per month by claiming it provided services it didn’t and by putting Soloman’s family members and even handymen who worked on her rental properties, on the company payroll for reimbursement purposes.

“In addition to the inflated billings, Solomon funneled personal expenses for travel, tuition, vehicles, gifts and other items, as well as expenses related to three other business entities owned by her” through the company, according to a release from the Attorney General’s Office.

Solomon pleaded guilty in December. She was sentenced to eight years in prison with all but 42 months suspended and ordered to repay all the money she took. After her release, she will be on probation for three years.

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