Former Mansfield UMADAOP president, CEO Geron Tate pleads guilty to Medicaid theft
The former president and CEO of Mansfield UMADAOP pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Medicaid-related theft case involving more than $900,000.
Geron Tate, 66, pleaded guilty to aggravated theft and Medicaid fraud in Richland County Common Pleas Court. He pleaded to a bill of information, meaning his case will not be presented to a grand jury.
Aggravated theft is a second-degree felony, and Medicaid fraud is a third-degree felony.
UMADAOP, which stands for Urban Minority Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Outreach Program, offers a path to drug and alcohol abuse recovery through individualized treatment plans, as well as prevention services.
Daisy Barker house:NAACP wants to preserve site after it is demolished
According to the bill of information, Tate, "from on or about June 30, 2015, to on or about July 22, 2021, with purpose to deprive the owner of property, to wit: funds from the Ohio Department of Medicaid Benefits Program, did knowingly obtain or exert control over the property by deception. The value of the property was over $750,000 in violation of aggravated theft."
The count of Medicaid fraud involve the same time frame. Tate "did knowingly make or cause to be made a false or misleading statement(s) for use in obtaining reimbursement from the Medicaid program, to wit: submitting false claims to the Ohio Department of Medicaid Benefits Program. The value of the property, services or funds obtained was over $150,000, in violation of Medicaid fraud."
The case is being handled by the Ohio attorney general's office.
Tate also served as president of the local branch of the NAACP for two years, from 2016 to 2018. He also is a life member of the NAACP, becoming a member in 2013.
Your support helps keep the lights on at the News Journal. Stay connected with our daily stories, in-depth reporting and more by
clicking Subscribe
Subscribe
According to his LinkedIn profile, Tate is president and CEO of G. Tate and Associates, an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment organization.
He grew up in Mansfield and attended Mansfield City Schools. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a bachelor's degree in political science and from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio with a master's degree in counseling.
Tate most recently was in the news when the city announced the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center would close. He called the decision a "terrible idea" because of the services Ocie Hill provides for the community.
He said partnerships could be formed to keep the services. He added the programs help children have a safe place to go after school and to have dinner that might otherwise not be possible.
Tate's attorney, John Waddy of Columbus, declined to comment on the case.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Former head of Mansfield UMADAOP pleads guilty to Medicaid theft
