2 South Carolina cases in national record-breaking crackdown on health care fraud

FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — Two South Carolina cases are among hundreds of others in a National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

The Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown exists to charge those in connection with alleged schemes to defraud American health care systems.

Tina Marie Armstrong, 67, of Florence, was charged by superseding indictment with health care fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid for durable medical equipment that wasn’t in service, never delivered or had not been authorized by a physician.

Through Armstrong’s company, Safe at Home Medical Equipment and Supplies, LLC, she submitted $198,981.55 in false and fraudulent claims.

Of those, $104,577.74 was actually paid.

Health care fraud steals from the American taxpayer and harms the systems meant to serve those in need,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The cases in South Carolina, like those nationwide, demonstrate our unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens, especially our veterans, and ensuring the integrity of programs designed to care for them.

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Dee Alice Moton, 51, of Hephzibah, Georgia, was also charged by the District of South Carolina in this takedown.

Moton was charged for indictment with health care fraud in connection with a scheme where Moton billed the Veterans Administration for services not rendered to veterans in the amount of $2,373,147.22 over a two-year period.

Moton owned and operated a called Flowing Hands Massage Clinical Therapy in Aiken, S.C. DOJ officials said she continuously billed veterans for certain services that were never done.

Armstrong’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Holliday of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, and Moton’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews and Amy Bower of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.

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The DOJ said the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown is the largest health care fraud takedown in their history.

This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.

So far, 324 people have been charged for participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes, according to the DOJ.

In total, DOJ officials said these schemes have resulted in the submission of over $14.6 billion in alleged false billings and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances.

The government has already seized $245 million in cash, according to DOJ officials.