St. Louis County man charged with lab test fraud

ST. LOUIS – A man and a woman from St. Louis County, Alabama, are suspected of participating in an illegal bribery scheme related to laboratory testing for senior citizens.

Timothy C. Peoples, 56, and Willie Ann Cleveland, 41, are both charged with conspiracy to accept and pay health care bribes. Both have pleaded not guilty to the federal court indictment.

From 2017 to 2024, Peoples collected biological samples for genetic and COVID-19 testing, primarily from Medicare patients at senior centers in eastern Missouri, the indictment says.

Cleveland introduced Peoples to the lab staff so they could set up a kickback system, the indictment says. Peoples and Cleveland also entered into sham contracts to disguise the kickbacks as a “flat monthly fee for marketing.”

Cleveland received $9,000 from a lab on March 1, 2022, and wired $7,000 to Peoples three days later, according to an allegation in the indictment.

The indictment also states that Cleveland and Peoples offered a doctor a $100 commission for each laboratory test ordered.

Ultimately, both Cleveland and Peoples were accused in the indictment of lying to investigating federal agents.

The Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting.

The conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine.