A quarter-million dollars paid in hopes of opening a much-needed in-patient facility for mentally ill children mostly went to support former Augusta mayoral candidate Robin Williams' failed campaign and lifestyle, according to evidence presented Friday by prosecutors.
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Robin Williams is standing trial on charges of health-care fraud and conspiracy.
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In the fifth day of trial in U.S. District Court, prosecutors continued to connect dollars to companies to defendants in the case against Mr. Williams and four others accused of conspiracy and health-care fraud.
From the other side of the courtroom, defense attorneys drew out disclaimers that there were never any nefarious intentions behind how the defendants did business with the Community Mental Health Center of East Central Georgia.
Mr. Williams, former center Director C. Michael Brockman, Augusta pharmacist Duncan Fordham and lobbyists M. Chad Long and Rick L. Camp have each pleaded innocent to all charges listed in a 30-count federal indictment.
Mr. Williams' business, The International Consulting Corp., wasn't incorporated when the mental health center's board of directors entered into a $250,000 contract with the company March 13, 2002, witnesses have testified.
The board did not know the business was connected to Mr. Williams, and it was not incorporated under his name. The contract called for the company to prepare a Certificate of Need application for inpatient child and adolescent services.
The first $50,000 payment on the contract was deposited into the bank account of Mr. Williams' insurance business the day after the board entered into the contract, testified Bertha Johnson, an employee of Insurance Coverage Consultants, also owned by Mr. Williams.
Although the Insurance Coverage Consultants account contained less than $3,000 until that large check was deposited March 14, 2002, a $25,000 check was written to Mr. Williams the day before, she testified.
Other checks from that business account - in the name of "ICC Companies" by April 2002 - went to Mr. Williams, his wife and associates including co-defendant Mr. Long. Checks also went for Masters' housing and campaign advertising and receptions, according to court documents.
The last mental health center checks were deposited in May 2002, according to court records. A total of $100,000 came that month.
In July 2002, the mental health center board entered into another contract. Capitol Heath Systems would receive $1.2 million plus incentives to administer the center's billing services.
In the following six months, Capital Health Systems would pay $93,000 into Mr. Williams' bank account for ICC Companies, according to the indictment.
In late December 2002, a whistleblower raised questions about several of the contracts with the center.
The Augusta Chronicle began investigating the allegations, and in early 2003, the state Department of Human Resources sent in two investigative units.
And it was on Jan. 9, 2003, that Mr. Brockman directed the center's attorney, Paul David, to write a letter to Mr. Long stating that International Consulting Corp. no longer existed, so the center was demanding the return of the $250,000, minus legal fees already incurred, testified Mr. Brockman's former executive secretary Yvonne Lewis.
Later in January, an attorney representing Mr. Williams told The Chronicle that the International Consulting Corp. reimbursement was ready to be delivered to the mental health center.
David Janecke - employed by Capitol Health Systems and the third corporate officer of International Consulting Corp. - testified that he opened International's first bank account June 6, 2003, the day after he received a federal grand jury subpoena for all of the company's bank documents.
"Robin Williams asked me to open the account," Mr. Janecke testified. The company had recently added a new client, JRL of New Orleans, he testified.
Testimony continues today in federal court.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
Previous Stories
• Williams case goes to jurors
• Defendants had faith in Williams
• Questions focus on pricey cruise
• Robin Williams calls deals honest
• Williams trial witness is first to admit fraud
• Prosecutors say Williams lined pockets
• Witnesses speak of contract talks
• Jurors listen to tales of windfall
• Witness says he was 'puppet'
• Jury hears opening statements
• Fraud trial set for court today
• Trial is set to begin in fraud case
• Center considers name change for credibility
• Mental health center CEO works to get things straight
• Tangle of controversy
• Robin Williams' trial is set to begin Feb. 14
• Trials often have set path
• Health agency's board selects candidates
• Lawyer settles on deal
• Attorney could face complaints on ethics
• Center's ex-lawyer pleads innocent
• Williams' lawyer calls deals legal
• Williams indicted on fraud
Editorials
• Distressing indictments
