Blanca Murillo, a dentist who lives in Brookfield and practices in Chicago’s Archer Heights community, has been charged by the Illinois Attorney General’s office with defrauding the state of more than $100,000 in Medicaid funds.
One of the dentist’s employees, Jose Luis Carrillo Ibarra, 47, of Berwyn, was also charged, Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a news release on June 16.
Both were arraigned on Tuesday, June 16.
When a reporter called the dental office at 5036 S. Archer Ave. on June 17 seeking comment from Murillo, a female employee who answered replied: “She’s not in today.”
Murillo, 51, is a licensed dentist who owns Blanca Murillo DDS Inc.
She and Carrillo Ibarra were each charged in Cook County Circuit Court with:
• Two counts of theft of government property, each a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison
• Two counts of theft, Class 1 felonies punishable by up to 15 years in prison
• One count of vendor fraud, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison
• One count of conspiracy, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison
Their next court date is July 29.
“Medicaid provides access to lifesaving care to millions of Illinoisans, and it is egregious that a healthcare professional would take advantage of this program for their own financial gain,” Raoul said.
“My office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will continue to partner with state and federal agencies to hold individuals who cheat our systems accountable,” he added.
According to Raoul’s office, between January 2018 and November 2024, Murillo submitted more than $100,000 in claims for dental services through her practice that she did not provide.
The investigation found that Carrillo Ibarra, who was employed by Murillo during the period when the claims were submitted, is not a licensed dentist in Illinois. Murillo is alleged to have known this and paid him to provide dental services anyway, then billed the state for those services.
During this period, Murillo also owned Brite Smile DDS, at 1504 N. Western Ave. in Chicago’s West Town community.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit opened its investigation after receiving a referral from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services – Office of the Inspector General (HFS-OIG).
“HFS OIG is proud to partner with the Attorney General’s Office to protect the integrity of the Illinois Medicaid program,” HFS Inspector General Brian Dunn said. “This action sends a clear message: fraud within Medicaid will not be tolerated, and those who attempt to misuse public funds will be held fully accountable.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General assisted in the case.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Deputy Bureau Chief Steven Kruger and Assistant Attorney General Dan Duffy are prosecuting the case.