Former Lane County employee arraigned on healthcare fraud charges

A former Lane County employee, Amanda Joy Booth Thorne, 44, of Tigard, was arraigned on July 8 on multiple healthcare fraud charges tied to the federal government’s National Health Care Fraud Takedown. Thorne faces two counts of making false claims for healthcare payment, two counts of first-degree theft, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Federal prosecutors allege she used a government credit card to make purchases for developmental disabilities service clients for personal expenses, including rent and a car down payment. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12. The DOJ said four other Oregonians were arrested alongside more than 450 people nationwide in schemes totaling $6.5 billion. In Oregon, Mehrdad Gerami faces alleged fraudulent sleep-study billing losses of at least $2.1 million, while Jahangeer Ali is accused in genetic testing claims with losses over $15 million; additional local charges were brought against Linda Sue Thomas and Edward Morgan III.