DUNN, NC- North Carolina Representative David Lewis (R-Harnett) today wrote Governor Beverly Perdue praising her efforts to crack-down on Medicaid fraud and asking her to bar those found guilty of such fraud from doing further business with the State. He further pledged to file legislation to implement this ban when the General Assembly convenes in May.

Rep. Lewis’ letter was prompted by his outrage at learning Pitt County resident Frankie Bordeaux and his wife, Hattie Faye Bordeaux, admitted they improperly billed and collected from the taxpayers of North Carolina $4.2 million dollars in a fraudulent Medicaid scheme. Lewis said, “In Harnett County, we call that stealing.”

Bordeaux’s Burglary, as Rep. Lewis has dubbed the event, only serves to highlight the fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer’s Medicaid dollars. Lewis added, “Besides Bordeaux’s lack of business ethics, this $4.2 million dollars could have paid for services for truly needy North Carolinians. Stealing from the mentally ill is unconscionable.”

Rep. Lewis is working to create a law that a person or persons found guilty of stealing from the State will be barred from receiving other State contracts. “We are not going to allow tricks like changing a company name or creating a new corporate entity to be used to dodge responsibility and sneak back on the pubic dole,” said Rep. Lewis.

Lewis added “Most of the providers caring for our most vulnerable citizens do a good job and run an honest business. The bad actors, like the Bordeaux group, deprive already scarce resources from getting to citizens needing them. As far as I’m concerned, one strike at abusing the public trust, and you’re out.”

Lewis represents the 53^rd House District.