14-06-2025
Two WMATA train operators charged in health care fraud scheme, USAO says
WASHINGTON () — Two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) train operators were arrested on a slew of charges related to a years-long health care fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) announced Friday.
Maryland women, Michelle Shropshire, 54, of Waldorf, and Harlisha Jones, 49, of Clinton, were handed down charges of health care fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and others.
From June 2021 through January 2024, the two were said to use Jones's AFLAC Insurance policies to submit fraudulent health care and short-term disability claims for injuries, medical treatments and disability periods that did not exist, the USAO said.
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They reportedly used real doctors' information to create false medical excuse notes and physician statements, including forged doctors' signatures, which were used to support their insurance claims.
AFLAC paid Jones about $58,750 — about 20% of which she gave to Shropshire as a kickback.
The USAO said Shropshire helped numerous other WMATA employees in their own health care schemes.
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AFLAC paid more than $362,000 in phony insurance benefits to Shropshire, Jones and the other employees, including:
53-year-old Sharon Washington, of Woodbridge, Va.
53-year-old Selethia Blake, of Waldorf, Md.
56-year-old Brady Turner, of Clinton, Md.
51-year-old Lushawn Foreman, of Upper Marlboro, Md.
52-year-old Margot Jackson, of Hughesville, Md.
Other unnamed employees were said to be involved.
Washington, Blak, Turner, Foreman and Jackson have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and are awaiting sentencing. The USAO said they all admitted they paid kickbacks to Shropshire.
If convicted, Shropshire and Jones face up to 20 years in prison, with an additional sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft.
DC News Now reached out to WMATA for a statement, which said, 'Metro does not comment on personnel issues.'
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