Akim T. Murray, a former Human Resources Specialist for New York City, was sentenced Monday to 5 years in prison for funneling funds using Medicaid. Murray, who nicknamed himself "A.T.M.," pled guilty in September 2014 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for abusing his access as a Human Resources Administration employee in order checks amounting to over a million dollars issued to his friends and criminal associates, who in turn gave him a cut of the proceeds.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Bharara stated:
"Taking money meant for people in need, Akim Murray used his position as a New York City employee to divert over a million dollars to himself and his friends. City employees who abuse their access in similar ways should heed the lesson in his deserved prison sentence: this office and its law enforcement partners will not tolerate such conduct."
From July 2009 to September 2010, Murray used loopholes in a computer systems to both recommend and then separately approve the issuance of Medicaid reimbursement checks without oversight. He used personal information of individuals to create and approve reimbursement check in their names while demanding 50-70% of the proceeds. Throughout that time he approved over $1 million in Medicaid reimbursement requests.
He was ordered to pay $1,383,501.15 in restitution and $100,000 in forfeiture.