Florida Men Sentenced for Medicare Fraud Scheme
Two men receive prison time for orchestrating a pharmacy billing scheme that defrauded Medicare of nearly $900,000.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Financial Crime
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A federal court has sentenced Steven Anthony Churchill and Samson Kollelil Solomon to 24 months in prison each for their roles in a health care fraud scheme. The pair used a mail-order pharmacy to submit thousands of false claims to Medicare.
Why it matters
The case highlights the ongoing exploitation of government health programs through illicit telemedicine partnerships. By bypassing physical or legitimate virtual examinations, the defendants were able to secure fraudulent payments based solely on potential profit margins.
The federal court in Topeka, Kansas, issued 24-month sentences to both defendants. Investigations are ongoing regarding 15 of the 40 prescribing physicians involved in referring medically unnecessary services.
The players
Steven Anthony Churchill
He is one of the Florida men convicted for his role in the health care fraud scheme involving the operation of Free State Pharmacy.
Samson Kollelil Solomon
He is the second defendant sentenced to prison for his involvement in the fraudulent billing scheme.
Fawn Lickteig
She is a third defendant in the same health care fraud case who is currently awaiting sentencing.
Free State Pharmacy
This was the mail-order pharmacy used by the defendants to submit false claims to Medicare for unnecessary prescriptions.
The details
Free State Pharmacy, which operated out of Lawrence, Kansas, acquired patient data from telemedicine companies to bill Medicare for unnecessary prescriptions. The pharmacy processed 948 claims for Florida residents and 381 for Kansas residents before being caught.
Timeline
March 2020: Steven Churchill acquired Free State Pharmacy.
September 2020 to February 2021: Defendants submitted 2,699 false claims to Medicare.
April 7, 2026: The Department of Justice announced the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
November 10, 2026: Fawn Lickteig is scheduled for sentencing.
Legal Context
The prosecution of this pharmacy scheme reflects a wider federal crackdown on health care fraud. This case follows the trajectory set by the National Fraud Enforcement Division in prioritizing the dismantling of complex billing networks.
The investigation highlights significant vulnerabilities in how mail-order pharmacies access patient data from telemedicine providers. Residents should verify that their prescribed medications are linked to a legitimate, recent physical or authenticated telemedicine consultation.
The takeaway
Patients should always ensure their medical providers are performing actual evaluations before issuing prescriptions. This case serves as a reminder to monitor Medicare statements for any services or medications that were not requested or received.
What happens next
Fawn Lickteig is scheduled to be sentenced by the federal court on November 10, 2026.
Further reading
For more on federal efforts to combat illicit billing practices, see our coverage of Financial Crime.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The United States Department of Justice.
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