Attorney General Griffin Announces Seven Arrests Made By Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

The Arkansas Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) announced seven arrests between September 11 and September 18, 2026, encompassing five felony charges and two misdemeanor charges across three categories: Medicaid fraud, abuse of a vulnerable person, and failure to report adult abuse. Sharon Whitaker, 59, of Conway was charged with Medicaid fraud (Class B felony) after submitting claims totaling $6,850.56 for personal care services purportedly rendered to clients while she was simultaneously on duty as a property manager of the apartment complex where those clients resided. Shane Phillips, 38, of Little Rock was charged with Medicaid fraud (Class A felony) after submitting claims totaling $88,104.96 for personal care and attendant care services during periods when his client was an inpatient in a hospital and when Phillips was clocked in for other employers. That case was referred to MFCU by the Arkansas Office of the Medicaid Inspector General. Michael Bodine, 33, of Beebe was charged with Medicaid fraud (Class C felony) for simultaneously billing Medicaid for personal care services for two different beneficiaries while employed at a local business, generating over 90 fraudulent claims totaling $4,725.76. John Weis, 21, of Booneville was charged with abuse of a vulnerable person (Class D felony) for purposely causing injury to a resident while working as a certified nursing assistant at the Booneville Human Development Center. Gregory Davell Clayborn, 33, of Arkadelphia was charged with abuse of an adult (Class D felony) for slapping a resident at the Arkadelphia Human Development Center, causing substantial physical pain and mental anguish. Two coworkers, Shamirrah Desha Childs, 25, and Debbie Kay Thomas, 61, both of Arkadelphia, were each charged with failure to report the abuse of an adult (Class B misdemeanor) for not reporting Clayborn's conduct. The Arkansas MFCU is funded 75% by a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant totaling $4,781,516 for federal fiscal year 2026, with $3,586,140 federally funded and $1,195,376 from Arkansas General Revenue for state fiscal year 2026.