A Minnesota woman has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with a scheme that defrauded the federal TRICARE healthcare program and private lenders, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Adelle Starin, 40, of Sartell, the founder and operator of Baby’s on Broadway, a business selling baby products and toys, submitted fraudulent claims to TRICARE, the healthcare program of the U.S. Department of Defense. TRICARE initially paid these claims but later began rejecting them, prompting Starin to expand her fraudulent activities.
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Starin created a second company, Sunshine Medical LLC, which she falsely represented as a legitimate supplier of inventory for Baby’s on Broadway. To secure financing from lenders Liquid Capital Enterprises Corp. and Slope Tech Inc., Starin fabricated invoices from Sunshine Medical. In reality, Sunshine Medical had no actual operations or revenue.
Using these false invoices, Starin obtained over $9 million in financing via wire communications.
Starin pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on December 19, 2024, before Judge Jeffrey Bryan in U.S. District Court. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
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The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Defense Health Agency Office of Inspector General.
“Today’s guilty plea underscores our commitment to holding individuals accountable for exploiting federal programs and private lenders for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “This case highlights the dedication of our law enforcement partners in uncovering complex fraud schemes.”
Starin faces significant penalties for her actions. Wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, though the final sentence will be determined by the court.
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