Concord, NH – Deputy Attorney General Jane E. Young announces that David Hackney (age 40) pled guilty on March 2, 2021, to Conspiracy to Make False Claims and Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception in connection with fraudulent claims for non-emergency medical transportation services provided by Frank's Taxi.

As a former employee of Frank's Taxi, Mr. Hackney was engaged in a conspiracy with other Frank's Taxi employees collecting more than $20,000 in fraudulent Medicaid claims paid to Frank's Taxi for transportation services that were never provided, between June 2, 2015, and April 30, 2016.

Mr. Hackney pled guilty to conspiring with Edward Donnell, IV (age 39), Liudmila Bulatova (age 37), and Angelica Soule (age 33). Mr. Donnell owned Frank's Taxi, which was headquartered in Somersworth, New Hampshire. Ms. Bulatova, Mr. Donnell's wife, was also employed by Frank's Taxi and handled the company's billing. Mr. Hackney was employed by Frank's Taxi as a driver and then mechanic, and Ms. Soule was his girlfriend.

The Strafford County Superior Court sentenced Mr. Hackney to serve 12 months in the Strafford County House of Corrections on the charge of Conspiracy to Make False Claims. The Court further ordered Mr. Hackney to pay restitution jointly and severally in the amount of $21,298.14 to New Hampshire Medicaid. The Court also sentenced Mr. Hackney to serve two to four years at the New Hampshire State Prison on the charge of Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception, all suspended for five years from his release on the False Claims charge, to be imposed consecutively if he fails to remain of good behavior.

The charges and allegations in the indictments pending against Mr. Donnell, Ms. Bulatova, and Ms. Soule are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Assistant Attorney General Stephanie J. Johnson, Senior Assistant Attorney General Thomas T. Worboys, and Investigator Robert Sullivan of the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated and prosecuted this case.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes fraud by healthcare providers who treat Medicaid beneficiaries. Healthcare providers include, but are not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, dentists, pharmacies, ambulance companies, and anyone else who is paid for providing healthcare services to Medicaid beneficiaries. If you would like to report a case of provider fraud, please contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at (603) 271-1246.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the New Hampshire Department of Justice receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $855,236 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $285,078 for FY 2021 is funded by the State of New Hampshire.