A dentist and a dental employee in Illinois were arrested for allegedly defrauding the state out of more than $100,000 in Medicaid funds, according to a press release dated June 10 from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
Dr. Blanca Murillo, 51, the owner of Blanca Murillo DDS in Chicago, and one of her employees, Jose Luis Carrillo Ibarra, 47, were arraigned on June 9 and charged with two counts of theft of government property, two counts of theft, one count of vendor fraud, and one count of conspiracy.
The pair face up to 30 years in prison if they are convicted of theft of government property, according to the press release. Each of the other felonies carries up to a 15-year sentence.
Between January 2018 and November 2024, Murillo, who also owns Brite Smile in Chicago, allegedly received payment for more than $100,000 in claims for dental services that she did not provide. Ibarra was working at Murillo’s practice during the time the claims were paid.
At no time was Ibarra a licensed dentist; however, Murillo, of Brookfield, IL, allegedly paid him to provide dentistry treatment at her practice and billed the state for those services, according to the press release.
Authorities began investigating the pair after receiving a referral from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services – Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
“Medicaid exists to deliver essential care to the individuals who rely on it, and fraud of this kind ultimately harms patients who trust their providers to act in their best interests,” Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the HHS-OIG said in the press release. “We remain committed to protecting vulnerable individuals and safeguarding the integrity of our health care programs.”
