The Lead Off
- A Defiance counselor has been indicted on allegations of billing Ohio Medicaid for services that investigators say were never provided
- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office says the alleged fraud resulted in more than $100,000 in losses
- The case is part of a broader statewide Medicaid fraud enforcement effort involving multiple defendants
DEFIANCE, OHIO (WOWO) — A Defiance man is facing felony charges after being accused of fraudulently billing Ohio’s Medicaid program for counseling services that investigators say were never performed, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
Robert Lomas, 62, of Defiance, was indicted on a Medicaid fraud charge following an investigation by the Ohio Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Allegations of improper Medicaid billing
Investigators say Lomas, a licensed independent chemical dependency counselor, submitted billing claims for counseling sessions that did not take place.
According to the attorney general’s office, those alleged actions resulted in a loss of approximately $106,620 to the Medicaid program.
Officials say billing records and client interviews were used as part of the investigation that led to the indictment.
Statewide Medicaid fraud cases
WTOL reports that Lomas is one of eight individuals named in separate Medicaid fraud and theft cases announced by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office this week. Officials say the combined losses in those cases total more than $542,000.
Attorney General Dave Yost said the cases reflect ongoing enforcement efforts targeting fraud within taxpayer-funded health programs.
“Caregivers are meant to protect the vulnerable, not exploit them,” Yost said in a statement. “My office will never tolerate thieves who line their pockets at the expense of elderly, disabled and low-income Ohioans.”
Additional indictments announced
According to investigators, other cases include allegations ranging from falsified time records and billing for services not provided to theft from elderly and disabled individuals. Officials say the cases span multiple Ohio cities and involve both individual caregivers and facility employees.
Among the allegations:
- Billing for home-health services while clients were hospitalized
- Charging Medicaid for services during out-of-country travel
- Forgery and theft involving residents of long-term care facilities
- Misuse of credit cards and unauthorized access to elderly relatives’ bank accounts
Officials say the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit continues to investigate and prosecute similar cases statewide.
Ongoing enforcement effort
State officials say the indictments are part of a broader crackdown on Medicaid fraud, with multiple enforcement sweeps conducted over the past year.
The attorney general’s office has announced several rounds of provider-related charges in 2025 and 2026, while state leaders have also emphasized increased oversight efforts aimed at preventing future fraud.
Next steps in the case
Court proceedings for Lomas and the other defendants are expected to move forward in Franklin County. If convicted, penalties will be determined by the court based on Ohio law.
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue reviewing additional Medicaid billing records and provider activity across the state.
The Takeaway
- A Defiance counselor has been indicted on allegations of Medicaid fraud, with investigators saying more than $100,000 was improperly billed for services that did not occur.
- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office says the case is part of a wider statewide crackdown involving multiple defendants and hundreds of thousands of dollars in alleged losses.
- Authorities say Medicaid fraud investigations remain active, with additional cases and prosecutions expected as reviews of billing practices continue across Ohio.
