Lancaster Trio Sentenced to Prison for Quarter-Million Dollar Medicaid Fraud

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Three Lancaster residents are headed to federal prison following a complex conspiracy to defraud the South Carolina Medicaid system. The sentences, handed down by U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis on February 25, 2026, mark the end of a years-long scheme that siphoned nearly $250,000 from taxpayers.

The defendants—Charles McKinley Griffin (56), Tika Michelle Griffin (48), and Kirk Nathan Evans (55)—were convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud after using a shell company to bypass state exclusions and bill for nonexistent services.

A Web of Deceit

The investigation revealed that the scheme was a calculated attempt by Charles Griffin to remain in the healthcare industry after being officially banned. The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) had previously excluded him from the Medicaid program for prior violations, including billing for services not rendered.

To evade this ban, the couple established a new company, Transformation Services, in Tika Griffin’s name. Through this front, they began a predatory recruitment process:

• Targeting Youth: The Griffins recruited Medicaid beneficiaries through after-school programs and summer camps across Lancaster and Kershaw counties.

• Unlicensed Care: They employed “therapists”—including Kirk Evans—who were not authorized by the state to provide behavioral health services.

• The “Group” Billing Tactic: Tika Griffin instructed employees to meet with children in groups but submit bills as if each child had received several hours of individual, one-on-one therapy.

The Cost of the Fraud

By billing for overlapping hours and services that were never actually provided, the trio successfully defrauded Medicaid of $246,335.12.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the defendants will serve their full terms as ordered:

Note: Restitution for the Griffins is “joint and several,” meaning they are collectively responsible for the full amount. Evans shares responsibility for a portion of that total.

Protecting the Vulnerable

This case was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (OIG) and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit.

The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott Daniels and Scott Matthews, emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy for those who exploit social safety nets designed for children and families in need.