Brookhaven Healthcare Owner Convicted of $305,000 Medicaid Fraud

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced today the conviction of Teresa Renee Owens, 60, of Brookhaven, for Medicaid fraud totaling $305,685.75.

Owens owned RJ Shepherd II, Inc., also known as Better Home Healthcare of Georgia, a company enrolled in Medicaid that provided behavioral health therapy services to both children and adults. An investigation revealed that Owens directed the repetitive submission of false claims to the Georgia Medicaid program. She also instructed her staff to create patient records containing false information to support these fraudulent claims. The $305,685.75 obtained through this scheme was then directly deposited into Owens’ personal bank account.

“Medicaid Fraud isn’t a victimless crime – it’s theft of taxpayer dollars and it undermines a system meant to care for our most vulnerable Georgians,” said Attorney General Carr. “As this case shows, we will not hesitate to hold accountable those who use their positions to exploit our Medicaid program. Rest assured, if you’re a provider attempting to game the system, you will be identified, prosecuted, and ordered to pay back every dollar you stole.”

Owens pleaded guilty in DeKalb County Superior Court to one count of Medicaid Fraud, one count of False Writings, and one count of Identity Fraud. Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson accepted the plea on March 31, 2025, and sentenced Owens to 10 years, with one year to be served in prison and the remaining nine years on probation. Following a restitution hearing on April 28, 2025, Judge Johnson also ordered Owens to pay $305,685.75 in restitution to the Georgia Medicaid program.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Attorney General Henry Hibbert and Assistant Attorney General Tarrea Williams of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division.