Just yesterday on Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley – She platforms Sharita Mathis Richardson, aka SHARITA MONA – a convicted fraudster that used her daycare to defraud me and you. Now she is all smiles because she used to be in the same prison as Julie Chrisley…. and now she uses social media to profit off her crimes.

Detailed Investigation into Sharita Mathis Richardson and Co-ConspiratorsIntroduction This investigation delves into the Medicaid fraud scheme involving Sharita Mathis Richardson and her co-conspirators, focusing on their theft from taxpayers, harm to low-income communities, and identity theft of the most vulnerable. Additionally, it explores Richardson’s efforts to leverage her situation on social media for potential financial gain, as of March 25, 2025.

The Fraud Scheme: A Closer Look Sharita Mathis Richardson, a former adjunct instructor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, was sentenced on May 25, 2022, to 22 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud (Greensboro Resident Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud North Carolina Medicaid System). She pleaded guilty on March 25, 2021, and was ordered to pay $2,005,531 in restitution to the North Carolina Fund for Medical Assistance.The scheme, operational between 2012 and 2016, involved submitting over $4 million in false claims for behavioral health services that were never delivered. Key co-conspirators included Antonio Fozard, who owned and operated several behavioral health companies such as Group Service, Group Service Solution, In Touch of Care, and Zoofari Kids. Fozard was sentenced to 151 months in prison and ordered to pay $4,242,794 in restitution for his role, which included submitting over $7 million in false claims from 2012 to 2017 (Cary Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Role in Medicaid Fraud Scheme).Other co-conspirators identified include Reginald Van Reese, Jr., Ruben Samuel Matos, Humbert Mercado, Jerry and Tony Taylor, and Luis Angel Lozada. Their roles involved canvassing low-income neighborhoods to collect personal identifying information (PII), including Medicaid identification numbers, which were then used to submit fraudulent claims. They also employed “note writers” to fabricate medical records to pass audits, further obscuring their activities.Zoofari Kids, operated by Richardson and Fozard, had locations in Durham and Garner, with the Durham site sharing an address with Group Service and purporting to provide mental health treatment, while the Garner location was a drop-in daycare funded by fraud proceeds. This operation filed thousands of false claims using stolen beneficiary information and a rendering provider’s details without consent, highlighting the scale of identity theft involved.

Impact on Low-Income CommunitiesThe fraud had a profound impact on low-income Medicaid beneficiaries, the very group the program is designed to serve. By stealing their identities, the conspirators not only defrauded the system but also denied these individuals access to essential behavioral health services. The stolen PII was incorporated into false billings, meaning the funds meant for their care were diverted, leaving them without the support they needed. This dual harm—identity theft and service denial—exacerbated the vulnerabilities of those already struggling, as noted in court documents and press releases (North Carolina Woman Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud Medicaid).The financial loss to taxpayers was significant, with over $4 million siphoned from the North Carolina Fund for Medical Assistance, funds that could have been used to enhance healthcare access for the community. The systematic effort to target low-income neighborhoods, as seen in the actions of Matos and Reese, underscores the deliberate exploitation of the most needy, further deepening community harm.

Legal Consequences and Current Status Richardson’s sentencing in 2022, with a 22-month prison term, reflects the severity of her involvement. Given her sentence began around May 2022, and considering standard release practices, she likely completed her term by early 2024, though exact release dates are not publicly detailed in the available information. Her co-conspirators faced similar legal repercussions, with Fozard’s 12-year sentence being notably longer due to his leadership role.

Social Media and Potential Financial Gain Richardson, known for founding Black Girls Cheer, a platform advocating for black girls in cheerleading, has maintained a public presence during her incarceration. The Black Girls Cheer website posted a note on December 8, 2022, addressing her confinement and creating a space for her to communicate with the community, directing to freesharita.com for personal messages (A Note Regarding Dr. Sharita Mathis Richardson | Black Girls Cheer). On this website, she shares her journey, emphasizing resilience and community support, but there is no direct evidence of monetization, such as donation requests or paid content, as of the latest checks.Searches for her social media presence on platforms like X and Instagram did not yield active profiles directly linked to her fraud case, and her LinkedIn profile (Sharita Mathis Richardson – LinkedIn) focuses on her academic and professional roles, with no mention of current monetization efforts. However, the user’s query suggests she might be leveraging her situation for financial gain, possibly through increased visibility and community support, which could indirectly lead to financial benefits, though this remains speculative without concrete evidence.

DiscussionThis case highlights the critical need for robust oversight in Medicaid programs to protect taxpayer funds and vulnerable populations. The exploitation of low-income communities through identity theft and service denial is a stark reminder of the ethical breaches possible in healthcare fraud. Richardson’s attempt to maintain a public image via social media, while not directly proven to be for financial gain, raises questions about the ethics of profiting from criminal activities, even indirectly. Further investigation into her post-release activities may clarify any monetization efforts, but as of now, the focus remains on her past actions and their community impact.

Table: Key Co-Conspirators and Sentences

ConclusionThe fraud scheme led by Sharita Mathis Richardson and her co-conspirators represents a significant betrayal of trust, stealing from taxpayers and harming low-income communities through identity theft and service denial. While her social media presence suggests an attempt to maintain community ties, the extent of financial gain remains unclear, warranting further scrutiny as she potentially re-enters public life.Key Citations

• Greensboro Resident Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud North Carolina Medicaid System
• Cary Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Role in Medicaid Fraud Scheme
• North Carolina Woman Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud Medicaid
• A Note Regarding Dr. Sharita Mathis Richardson | Black Girls Cheer
• Sharita Mathis Richardson – LinkedIn