Important Messages for Florida Parents & Seniors from Attorney General Moody

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Attorney General's Weekly Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 24 • June 17, 2022

Attorney General Moody's Week In Review

This week, I issued a warning for parents—drug dealers are using social media to sell dangerous, sometimes deadly substances to kids. Minors may be increasingly susceptible to these digital dealers during the summer, when they have more free time to spend online.

Using some of the most popular apps to target children, these digital dealers claim to have prescription opioids for sale, but they often deliver counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl instead.

Just two milligrams of fentanyl are enough to kill a full-grown adult. The scary part is users often have no idea what they are taking, and too many parents have found out too late that just one pill can kill.

That is why I released our Fast Facts on Fentanyl Toolkit to help parents keep their children safe. The kit is full of information highlighting the dangers of synthetic opioids and how drug dealers operate.

For example, dealers may use emoji codes to conduct illicit transactions. Here are some of the more common drug codes:

• Prescription Drugs: 💊🅿️ 🍫
• Dealer Advertising: 💰🔌🍁
• Cocaine: ❄️⛄🔑
• Marijuana: 💨🌲🔥

I hope that parents will use our toolkit as a conversation starter with their kids about the risks of drug abuse. For more information about opioid misuse, visit DoseOfRealityFL.com.

Stay safe, Florida.

In the News

Florida’s attorney general educating parents against ‘digital drug dealers’, WOKV Jacksonville

Moody: Drug dealers using social media to target minors, Florida Keys News

Attorney General Ashley Moody Releases Fast Facts on Fentanyl to Educate Parents, Space Coast Daily

Florida AG Warns Parents About Dangers of ‘Digital Dealers’, Epoch Times

She was supposed to be taking care of a patient. Instead, officials say Duval healthcare professional sat in her car, First Coast News

Florida home health aide arrested after withholding services from disabled adult, Click Orlando

 

Protecting Floridians

 

Attorney General Moody Helps Secure More Than $233 Million From Mallinckrodt Over Alleged Underpayment of Medicaid Drug Rebates

Attorney General Ashley Moody helped secure more than $233 million through a multistate action alleging that a nationwide pharmaceutical company defrauded Medicaid. Mallinckrodt ARD, LLC, formerly known as Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc, sells and markets pharmaceuticals nationwide. Of the more than $233 million secured through this nationwide effort, more than $14 million will go to the Florida Medicaid program.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “We are recovering millions of dollars for Florida’s Medicaid program and taxpayers nationwide following a massive multiagency investigation. It’s important that we always fight to uphold the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs. I hope this multistate effort sends a strong message to anyone looking to take advantage of taxpayers—that their scheme will be uncovered, and they will pay.” More.


Attorney General Moody Announces Arrest of Home Health Aide Employee for Withholding Services from Disabled Adult

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested a Duval County home health aide employee for falsifying time spent helping a disabled Medicaid recipient. According to the MFCU investigation, Diane Johnson did not provide any services to a disabled adult for five weeks, and instead sat in the car outside of the patient’s home. Unable to care and clean the house due to a disability, the patient's home became a mess and Johnson refused to do the services required.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Not only did this home health aide employee rip off a taxpayer-funded program, but she also withheld services from a patient in need of care. My Medicaid Fraud Control Unit uncovered these crimes, and now the suspect in this case will have to answer for her decisions not to provide care.” More.


Attorney General Moody Highlights Efforts to Protect Seniors on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Attorney General Ashley Moody is highlighting efforts to protect Florida seniors. Attorney General Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program, such as nursing homes, organizations for the mentally and physically disabled, and assisted living centers. Since 2019, MFCU investigations have resulted in the arrests of 41 suspects in cases involving the abuse, exploitation or neglect of Florida seniors.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Protecting vulnerable Floridians is a mission close to my heart and I am proud of the work my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigators do to stop patient abuse, exploitation and neglect. Their work not only stops the ongoing mistreatment of seniors, but it also prevents future atrocities by bringing to justice criminals who take advantage of defenseless Floridians.” More.

Events

This week, Attorney General Ashley Moody presented the office’s White Hat Award to Medicaid Fraud Administrative Assistant Kaitlyn Bock. The White Hat Award is given to Office of the Attorney General team members who demonstrate extraordinary effort and skill in fulfilling the mission of the office. Since joining the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in 2020, Bock regularly goes beyond the scope of her routine job responsibilities, both efficiently and effectively.
From left to right: Attorney General Ashley Moody, MFCU Administrative Assistant Kaitlyn Bock, MFCU Tampa Chief Jennifer Bla