Attorney General Todd Rokita

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 Changing birth certificates for desired genders is falsifying records, Attorney General Todd Rokita declares 

Attorney General Todd Rokita is filing motions to intervene in cases in which Indiana trial courts have ordered the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) to change the designation of sex on birth certificates to reflect preferred gender identities. 

“We’re taking a stand not only for the rule of law but also for common sense,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Indiana law requires birth certificates to reflect the historical, immutable fact of a child’s sex. One should have no more ability to change the listed sex on a birth certificate years after the fact than to change the newborn’s listed length or weight.” 

In dozens of instances, trial courts have ordered IDOH to change the historical record of a newborn’s sex.

The State of Indiana was not made a party to any of these cases, but according to Attorney General Rokita, the state has a clear interest in protecting the integrity of its own processes of issuing birth certificates. 

Beyond existing state laws already providing clarity on these matters, Governor Mike Braun has issued an executive order instructing state agencies to interpret and apply “sex” to mean “an individual human being’s immutable biological classification as either male or female” as determined at conception. 

A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available for download.

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Don’t let your freedom fizzle: Light up your Fourth of July with Unclaimed Property  

Attorney General Todd Rokita ignites Hoosiers to spark up their Independence Day on IndianaUnclaimed.gov 

As Indiana residents prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks and freedom, Attorney General Todd Rokita invites Hoosiers to ignite their holiday by visiting IndianaUnclaimed.gov to discover unclaimed property that could add a spark to their celebrations.  

“Hoosiers deserve to celebrate this Independence Day with a bang,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “There’s nothing more patriotic than reclaiming what’s rightfully yours. Let’s fire up the festivities by checking IndianaUnclaimed.gov for unclaimed treasures waiting to burst back into your wallet.” 

Here are the types of property that might go unclaimed this Fourth of July that are an even bigger bang than fireworks:      

• Unclaimed wages or commissions     
• Money orders   
• Safety deposit box contents   
• Savings and checking accounts   
• Refunds   
• Overpayments such as:   
  • Credit card balances   
  • Cell phone bills   
  • BMV payments   

Here’s how to make sure your property doesn’t go unclaimed:   

• Keep a record of all bank accounts.   
• Record all stock certificates and be sure to cash all dividends received.   
• Record all utility deposits, including telephone, cable, and electricity deposits.   
• Cash all checks promptly.   

Join the revolutionary effort and be sure to check IndianaUnclaimed.gov or text CLAIM to 46220 to search your name, family, or business.    

In addition to the website, you also may contact the Unclaimed Property Division at 1-866-462-5246 or updmail@atg.in.gov.    

A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available for download.    

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  Attorney General Todd Rokita leads 13 Investigations resulting in charges to combat health care fraud nationwide  

Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office took decisive action as part of a nationwide crackdown on health care fraud, targeting licensed medical professionals and providers allegedly involved in fraudulent schemes and drug diversion.  
 

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) conducted 13 criminal investigations into suspected Medicaid fraud, resulting in charges against 13 individuals.  
 

"Medicaid is a critical lifeline for Hoosiers, and we have zero tolerance for those who abuse it for personal gain," Attorney General Rokita said. "Our committed team tirelessly pursues accountability for those who defraud the system, ensuring justice for our taxpayers, preserving essential resources, and ensuring the proper use of controlled substances to protect patients." 
 

In these 13 cases, the Indiana Attorney General’s MFCU investigated licensed health care professionals and Medicaid providers suspected of illegal activities.  
 

These investigations align with a national effort spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  
 

Below are summaries of the cases involving Indiana’s MFCU investigations. In each case, the fact that a person has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and these individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The abbreviations "LPN," "RN," and "QMA" designate licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and qualified medication aides, respectively.  
 

State v. Nathaniel Stimpson 90D01-2506-F6-000062  
In Wells County, RN Nathaniel Stimpson, 34, of Decatur, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, a Level 6 felony, and four counts of Theft, all Class A misdemeanors. It is alleged that Stimpson, while working for Eleos Hospice Care, stole medication from patients and obtained controlled substances for his own use. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Robin Gillman of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Nathaniel Stimpson 01D01-2506-F6-000048  
In Adams County, RN Nathaniel Stimpson, 34, of Decatur, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, a Level 6 felony, and twelve counts of Theft, all Class A misdemeanors. It is alleged that Stimpson, while working for Eleos Hospice Care, stole medication from patients and obtained controlled substances for his own use. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Robin Gillman of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Billy Guthrie 30D02-2506-F6-000936  
In Hancock County, RN Billy Guthrie, 48, of Knightstown, Indiana, is charged with Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, all Level 6 felonies. It is alleged that Guthrie, while working for Greenfield Healthcare Center, diverted medication from patients and obtained controlled substances for his own use. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Robin Gillman of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Dezarae Polinske 49D36-2506-F6-018109  
In Marion County, RN Dezarae Polinske, 30, of Elkhart, Wisconsin, is charged with Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, all Level 6 felonies. It is alleged that Polinske, while working at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, diverted medication from a patient and obtained a controlled substance for her own use. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Robin Gillman of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Sheri Hapner 44D01-2506-F6-000094  
In LaGrange County, LPN Sheri Hapner, 53, of Middlebury, Indiana, is charged with Failure to Make, Keep or Furnish a Record, Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information, and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, all Level 6 felonies. It is alleged that Hapner, while working at the Waters of LaGrange, diverted medication from patients, failed to properly document medication administration, documented false information, or obtained controlled substances for her own use. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Robin Gillman of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Jennifer Anne Brant 02D04-2506-F6-000880  
In Allen County, Jennifer Anne Brant, 62, of New Haven, Indiana, is charged with Fraud and Theft, both Level 6 felonies. Brant, a licensed Home Health Aide, is alleged to have submitted claims for personal attendant care services provided to an in-home patient that were not actually provided. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Georgeanna Teipen of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Tara Tiara Brown 02D05-2506-F6-000895  
In Allen County, Tara Tiara Brown, 43, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is charged with Fraud and Theft, both Level 6 felonies. Brown, an in-home personal care attendant, is alleged to have submitted claims for personal attendant care services provided to multiple in-home patients that were not actually provided. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Georgeanna Teipen of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Lindsay Plake 34C01-2506-F6-001506  
In Howard County, Lindsay Plake, 40, of Elwood, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Failure to Make, Keep or Furnish Records, and Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information, all Level 6 felonies, and Theft, a Class A misdemeanor. Plake, a qualified medication aide working in an assisted living facility, is alleged to have stolen prescribed medications from multiple residents of that facility. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Georgeanna Teipen of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Catherine Grimes 49D23-2506-F6-018636  
In Marion County, Catherine Grimes, 66, of Greencastle, Indiana, is charged with five counts of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit and one count of Failure to Make, Keep or Furnish Records, all Level 6 felonies. Grimes, a Registered Nurse, is alleged to have acquired multiple types of prescribed controlled substances from multiple inpatients of an Indianapolis recovery center. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Christy Orwig 39D01-2506-F6-000607  
In Jefferson County, RN Christy A. Orwig, 58, of Madison, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Illegally Possessing a Narcotic Drug, Failing to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record, and Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information, all Level 6 felonies. It is alleged that Orwig, while working at a nursing home, dispensed patient narcotics for her own personal use on various occasions. The case was investigated by Sarah Shoup and is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Jenny Byrd 82D03-2506-F6-003827  
In Vanderburgh County, QMA Jenny F. Byrd, 41, of Oakland City, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Illegally Possessing a Narcotic Drug, and Failing to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record, all Level 6 felonies. It is alleged that Byrd, while employed at a nursing home, diverted narcotic drugs intended for patients for her own personal use and admitted to the diversion during the investigation. The case was investigated by Vinnie Gieselman and is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Kayla Bell 82D03-2506-F5-003828  
In Vanderburgh County, LPN Kayla R. Bell, 35, of Newburgh, Indiana, is charged with Obstructing the Delivery of a Prescription Drug, a Level 5 felony, and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Illegally Possessing a Narcotic Drug, and Failing to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record, all Level 6 felonies. It is alleged that Bell, while working at a nursing home, diverted patient narcotics for her own use, including signing out drugs for a patient without an active prescription, and admitted to the diversion during the investigation. The case was investigated by Vinnie Gieselman and is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

State v. Patrice Amos 49D35-2506-F6-018645  
In Marion County, RN Patrice R. Amos, 44, of Avon, Indiana, is charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, Illegally Possessing a Narcotic Drug, and Failing to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record, all Level 6 felonies. It is alleged that Amos, while working at a nursing home, diverted narcotic drugs intended for facility patients for her own personal use. The case was investigated by Craig Whited and is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana MFCU.  
 

Attorney General Rokita expressed gratitude to the investigators and attorneys of his Indiana MFCU team for their tireless efforts in these cases.  
 

The Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a federal grant. The remaining 25 percent is funded by the State of Indiana.  
 

Charging documents connected to the aforementioned cases — excepting those involving active warrants — are available upon request. Email press@atg.in.gov.  

A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available for download.

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   Attorney General Todd Rokita sounds the alarm on dangerous BMV scam texts 

Attorney General Todd Rokita is alerting Hoosiers about an email and text message scam falsely claiming to be a “final notice” from the Indiana Motor Vehicle Administration (BMV), not the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. These fraudulent messages aim to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting individuals by threatening actions related to alleged traffic violations.  

“Don’t let fraudsters steal your identity or hard-earned money,” said Attorney General Rokita. “Scammers are using sophisticated tactics to trick Hoosiers. If you receive a suspicious text claiming to be from the BMV, do not click on any links and report it to our office immediately then call your phone provider for blocking solutions.”  

In previous scam messages - like June 5, 2025, scammers sent out different fraud texts from “DMV” instead of “BMV”. Scammers are using a new tactic in these deceptive messages and sending through Apple’s iMessage app rather than SMS messages. Our office has received multiple complaints and our Anti-Robocall Task Force is diligently working with three major Mobile Network Operators (MNO) to reach a solution in policing these new illegal behaviors.  

The scam messages claim that, by June 26, 2025, individuals with outstanding tickets will face the following actions if payment is not completed:   

• They will be reported to the BMV for ticket violation.   
• Their vehicle registration will be suspended.   
• Their driving privileges will be suspended for 30 days.   
• They will be transferred to a toll booth and charged a 35% service fee.   
• They may face prosecution and will suffer potential impacts to credit scores.  

Attorney General Rokita is calling on Hoosiers to remain vigilant and take the following precautions:   

• Do Not click on any links in unsolicited email or text messages claiming to be from the BMV.   
• Do Not provide personal information, such as your driver’s license number or Social Security number.   
• Do Not share any card or account information through text messages or unverified links.  
• Report the unwanted text messages as junk on the app you use and block the phone number or email address.  
• Contact your phone provider for call/text blocking solutions. Many manufacturers have built-in features to block unwanted calls or offer apps to block and label potential spam calls. Click here for a list of resources available.   
• Forward spam emails to the FTC at spam@uce.gov and report at reportFraud.ftc.gov.  

If you have already provided personal information or money through a link in these email or text messages, file a consumer complaint immediately online at indianaconsumer.com or call 317-232-6330.   

For more information on avoiding scams, visit the Indiana Attorney General’s website at www.in.gov/attorneygeneral. 

A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available for download.   

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Attorney General Todd Rokita helps deliver $7.4 billion blow to Sackler Family and Purdue Pharma in nation’s largest opioid settlement

Indiana to receive up to $100 Million

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, alongside 55 other Attorneys General, has secured a landmark $7.4 billion settlement with the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma, marking the largest settlement to date holding individuals accountable for their role in the opioid crisis. This agreement addresses the devastating impact of Purdue’s aggressive marketing of opioid products under the Sacklers’ ownership, which fueled the worst drug crisis in U.S. history.

“This settlement - along with the other ones we have produced over the last four years—are a monumental victory for Hoosiers and communities nationwide devastated by the opioid epidemic,” Attorney General Rokita said. “The Sackler family and Purdue Pharma profited for decades while pushing addictive drugs that tore apart families and lives. This agreement ends the family’s control, bans them from selling opioids in the U.S., and delivers critical funds to rebuild our communities through addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Indiana’s state and local governments will receive up to $100 million over the next 15 years to support efforts to combat the opioid crisis. The majority of the settlement funds will be distributed within the first three years, with the Sacklers contributing $1.5 billion and Purdue providing approximately $900 million in the initial payment. Additional payments include $500 million after one year, $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years.

The settlement permanently ends the Sackler family’s control of Purdue Pharma and prohibits them from participating in the opioid industry in the United States. The funds will bolster critical programs to address addiction, support recovery, and prevent further harm in communities across Indiana and the nation.

Like prior opioid settlements, the settlement with Purdue and the Sacklers will involve resolution of legal claims by state and local governments. The local government sign-on and voting solicitation process for this settlement moving forward will be contingent on bankruptcy court approval. A hearing is scheduled on that matter in the coming days. 

“This is about accountability and justice,” Attorney General Rokita added. “We’re ensuring that those responsible for this crisis are held accountable and that the resources are directed to where they’re needed most - our communities working to heal and rebuild.”

Attorney General Rokita is joined in securing this settlement in principle by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, Wyoming.

A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available for download.

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