CHARLOTTE — A former tenant of one of Cedric Dean’s properties says she was required to give her and her children’s Medicaid information in order to stay at his hotel.
Federal investigators say Dean and his workers improperly obtained Medicaid information from people seeking his help and billed Medicaid for services that weren’t provided.
No criminal charges have been filed against Dean but he is under investigation.
Feds are seeking to seize four of Dean’s homes, five of his vehicles and cash.
Charlotte resident Jysenya Jimenez says she was escaping a domestic violence situation and turned to Cedric Dean for help. He offered her and her kids a room in the former Baymont Inn in exchange for her and her children’s Medicaid information.
“They were just telling us, ‘Oh, we just need your Medicaid information, and they will this will cover your room. This will cover your stay,’” she said.
She regrets giving it to him. Federal investigators say he billed Medicaid for more than $14 million worth of services over nearly a year. They say he received nearly $9 million and used the money to enrich himself and buy houses and cars.
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Jimenez wants to know if he profited off her pain
“I’m very troubled because it is like, what are you using my children’s information for?” She said. “What are you using my information for?”
She thinks her information was used improperly because she got a mysterious bill from Atrium Health for more than $500. She says she and her kids haven’t used that hospital system, lately.
As for her stay at the hotel, it wasn’t ideal. Not only did she have to give up her Medicaid information, she says Dean moved two other families into the room with her and her four children
“I went to him personally, and I said something, and he said, ‘Oh well, this is a shelter like space, so this is what we need to do,’” she said.
In June, Dean shut down that hotel Jimenez was living in. Jimenez now has a safe home for her and her family to stay.
Recognition
Dean was well known throughout the community and not just by people who needed housing.
County leaders proclaimed March 29 as “Cedric Dean Day.”
Commission Chairman Mark Jerrell told Channel 9 that he takes full responsibility for the proclamation.
The chairman said he wanted to honor Dean’s work with a community center. In a photo, Jerrell is standing with Dean and Councilwoman Tiawana Brown.
Jerrell said he had no idea about the allegations against Dean and is troubled by them.
A city of Charlotte spokesperson told Channel 9 there was no official proclomation from the city.
Civil forfeiture
“It definitely caught the attention of federal regulators,” said Dena King, former U.S. attorney of the Western District of North Carolina
Medicaid fraud is prevalent, King told Channel 9’s Hunter Sáenz.
“For people, wrongdoers, to utilize the system to unfairly reap benefits and money, is just really disheartening,” she said.
The FBI seizure of Dean’s properties was part of a civil forfeiture.
“Being able to seize those items before the individual has the opportunity to sell or transfer or move to someone else,” King said. “Those are really, really important.”
Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over one of Dean’s homes Friday.
Dean and a woman came out to see what the buzz was about as he offered a smirk before going inside.
Sáenz visited the home but Dean didn’t come out again. So, Sáenz tried to call him but had to leave a voicemail. Cedric didn’t call back.
King said a criminal investigation and charges could come down the road, but they don’t always happen after a civil forfeiture.
It all depends on the evidence they gather.
Dean still can stay at his homes, because he still has due process.
He has a right to be heard and could object.
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