News Summary
Precious Cruse, ex-owner of Caring Through Love, was convicted on 17 federal felony charges, including healthcare fraud and identity theft. Her actions exploited Medicaid, causing significant harm to low-income pregnant women and new mothers. Cruse’s fraudulent activities led her to accumulate over $700,000 in ill-gotten gains, which she used for a lavish lifestyle, raising concerns over the misuse of funds intended for essential healthcare services. This case highlights systemic failures in protecting vulnerable populations and the integrity of prenatal care programs.
Milwaukee – Precious Cruse, the former owner of the prenatal care company Caring Through Love, has been convicted of 17 federal felony charges, including healthcare fraud and identity theft, following a trial that concluded on September 12. These charges stem from her actions that exploited the healthcare system intended to assist low-income pregnant women and new mothers.
Cruse was found guilty of multiple offenses, including engaging in paying kickbacks and money laundering. Caring Through Love was designed to provide support to vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and their babies. However, in a significant betrayal of trust, Cruse used the company to defraud Medicaid, a program crucial in aiding at-risk populations with prenatal care and health education.
The investigation into Cruse’s actions began after a detailed report by a local publication in 2022, which highlighted serious flaws within Wisconsin’s prenatal care coordination program. These issues are particularly grave, as Wisconsin has one of the highest rates of Black infant mortality in the nation, with Black infants being three times more likely to die before their first birthday compared to their white counterparts.
During the trial, prosecutors presented compelling evidence that Cruse utilized various deceptive practices to attract women into her program. This included offering kickbacks in the form of free baby items like car seats, diapers, and pack ‘n plays. Moreover, she exploited the personal information of women enrolled in her program, submitting false Medicaid claims for services that were never rendered. The fraudulent activities allowed her to accumulate over $700,000 from Medicaid in a mere 10-month period in 2021.
The misappropriated funds were reportedly used by Cruse to maintain a lavish lifestyle, which included luxury travel and high-end fashion purchases. Notably, her extravagant spending included the purchase of an $18,000 custom diamond necklace and bracelet for her toddler. Court documents also indicate that jewelry might be seized if Cruse is convicted, specifically items that are diamond-encrusted.
Cruse was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2023, and she now faces sentencing scheduled for January 20, 2026. The legal ramifications could be severe; she is looking at a minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft and up to a maximum of 20 years for each healthcare fraud charge.
Another individual involved in similar fraudulent activities within the prenatal care sector, former prenatal care company owner Markita Barnes, is set to go on trial on November 10, 2025. This connection emphasizes a broader issue engaging collective scrutiny regarding the management of Medicaid funds flowing to prenatal care businesses like Caring Through Love.
The extensive investigation brought to light by the local publication in 2022 shed light on serious misconduct within the Medicaid program related to prenatal care, showcasing the systemic failure to protect vulnerable women and children. In light of these developments, U.S. Attorney Rick Frohling expressed concern over the misuse of funds meant for essential healthcare services, affirming that such fraud erodes the trust and integrity of programs designed to assist those in need.
As the legal proceedings against Cruse move forward, this case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in ensuring the integrity of health programs aimed at supporting at-risk populations. The outcomes of these investigations and trials will likely have significant implications for the future of prenatal care services and the management of Medicaid funding in Wisconsin.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Former Prenatal Care Owner Convicted of Fraud in Wisconsin
Additional Resources
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Wikipedia: Healthcare Fraud
- BizTimes
- Google Search: healthcare fraud Wisconsin
- Hoodline
- Google Scholar: Medicaid fraud cases
- We Are Green Bay
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Health Care Fraud
- Wisconsin Law Journal
- Google News: Prenatal care fraud
Author: STAFF HERE MILWAUKEE WRITER
MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.
