New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General

News Release

For Immediate Release
July 13, 2021

Contact:
Kate Giaquinto, Director of Communications
kate.giaquinto@doj.nh.gov | 603-573-6103

Stephanie J. Johnson, Assistant Attorney General
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
Stephanie.J.Johnson@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-1248

Thomas T. Worboys, Senior Assistant Attorney General
Director, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

Edward Donnell, IV of Frank's Taxi Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Medicaid Fraud, Presenting False Records and Destruction of Records

Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Edward Donnell, IV, age 40, of Dover, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Make False Claims, Presenting False Records and Destruction of Records in connection with fraudulent claims for non-emergency medical transportation services on July 19, 2021, in Strafford County Superior Court.

Between June 2, 2015 and April 30, 2016, Donnell, the former owner of Frank's Taxi, engaged in a conspiracy with his employees, which resulted in Frank's Taxi obtaining more than $20,000 for transportation services that were never provided.

Mr. Donnell pleaded guilty to conspiring with Liudmila Bulatova, age 38, Angelica Soule, age 34, and David Hackney, age 40. Mr. Donnell owned Frank's Taxi, which was headquartered in Somersworth, New Hampshire. Ms. Bulatova, Mr. Donnell's wife, was 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 Mr. Hackney's girlfriend.

The Strafford County Superior Court sentenced Mr. Donnell to serve twelve months in the Strafford County House of Corrections, commencing on July 21, 2021 at 5:00 P.M., with a recommendation for administrative home confinement after thirty days, for Conspiracy to Make False Claims, a class B felony. The Court further ordered Mr. Donnell to pay restitution jointly and severally in the amount of $21,298.14 to New Hampshire Medicaid. The Court also sentenced Mr. Donnell to serve one to three years at the New Hampshire State Prison for Presenting False Records, a class B felony, all suspended for five years from his release on the False Claims charge, and to serve a consecutive one to three years at the New Hampshire State Prison for Destruction of Records, a class B felony, also entirely suspended for five years.

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

Mr. Hackney previously pleaded guilty on March 2, 2021, to Conspiracy to Make False Claims, a class B felony, and Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception, a class A felony. He is presently serving a twelve month sentence at the Strafford County House of Corrections.

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.

New Hampshire Department of Justice
1 Granite Place South | Concord, NH | 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3658