THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 19, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 53 4 . COLE v . THE STATE. J E-0 5 6 C

E LLI N G T O N , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Fo l l owi n g ou r g ran t o f her ap p l i cat i on fo r i n terl o cu t o ry ap p eal

, Tu s h an n a Co l e

ap p eal s fro m t he t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er ov erru l i n g h er s p eci al d em urrer t o an i n d i ct m en t

ch arg i n g h er wi t h M ed i cai d frau d an d t h eft b y t ak i n g

. Co l e co n t en d s t h at t h e

i n d i ct m en t ’ s i d en t i f

i c a t i o n o f 4 4 in d i v i d u al s i d en t i fi ed t h erei n by t h ei r i n it i al s was

i m p ro p er, an d t h at th e ran g e o f d at es th e cri m es were co m m i t t ed

, as s et fo rt h i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, i s u n reas o n ab l y b ro ad

. Fo r th e reas o n s s et fo rt h b el o w

, we co n cl u d e t h at

,

as t h e St at e co u ld h av e m o re n arro wl y st at ed t h e d a t e s o n wh i ch t h e cri m es were

co m m i t t e d

, t h e ran g e o f d at es s et fo rt h i n t h e i n d i ct m en t was o verl y b ro ad

, an d

rev ers e.

Co l e was i n d i ct ed i n t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Cl ay t o n Co u nt y fo r t h e o ffen s es o fM ed i cai d frau d

, O CGA § 4 9-4 -1 4 6 .1 (b ) (1 ), an d th eft b y tak i n g

, O CGA § 1 6 -8 -2

. In

Co u n t 1 , t h e i nd ict m en t ch arg ed t h at Co l e co m m i t t ed m ed i cai d frau d i n t h at

,

b eg i nn i n g o n o r ab o u t N o v em b er 1

, 20 1 0 [,] an d co n t i n u i n g t h ro u g h o n

o r ab o u t D ecem

b er 2 7, 2 0 1 3

, [s h e] d id u n lawfu l ly an d i n t en t i o n a l l y

o b t ai n an d k eep fo r h ers el f m ed i cal as si st an ce p ay m en t s i n an am o u n t

g reat er t h an th at t o wh i ch s h e was en t it l ed fro m t h e Geo rg i a Med i cai d

Pro g ram b y m ean s o f a frau d u len t s ch em e[.]

P a r a g rap h s n u m

b ered 1 t h ro u g h 7 o f Co u n t 1 d es cri b ed t h e frau du l en t s ch em e.

Acco rd in g t o t h e i n d i ct m en t

, Co l e, wh o was en ro l led as a p ro v i d e r i n t he Geo rg i a

M ed i cai d p ro g ram

, “ s u b m it ted n u m ero u s fal se cl ai m s t o Geo rg i a M ed icai d fo r

rei m b u rs em en t .”

In p art i cu l ar, p arag rap h 5 p ro v i d ed :

It was p art o f th e frau d ul en t s ch em e fo r t he accu s ed t o u n l awfu l l y ob t ai n

an d ret ai n m ed ical as s i s tan ce p ay m en t s fo r s erv i ces n o t ren d ered t o th e

p at i en t s l i s t ed i n Ex hi b i t A, i n co rp o rat ed h erei n b y referen ce, wi t h each

l i ne o f Ex h i b i t A co n s t i t u t i n g a sep arat e act

. Th es e p at i en t s di d n o t

recei v e t h e ex ten t o f s erv i ces b i l l ed

.

Parag rap h 6 st at es t h at “ [i ] t w as al s o a p art o f t h e frau d u l en t s ch em e fo r t h e accu s ed

t o ob t ai n r e i m

b u r s em en t fo r s erv i ces fo r wh i ch t h ere was n o d o cu m en t at i o n to

s u b s t an t i at e bi ll i n g

. Th es e s erv i ces were bi l l ed fo r th e reci p i en t s i den t i fi ed i n Ex h i b i t

2B wi t h each l i n e o f E x h i b i t B co n s ti t ut i n g a s ep arat e act .” Acco rd i n g t o t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, Geo rg ia M ed icai d m ad e p ay m en ts t o Co l e i n t he t o tal am o u n t o f

$ 2 9 7 ,8 3 1 .3 9 as a res u l t o f t h e frau du l en t s ch em e.

Co u nt 2 ch arg ed th at Co l e co m m i t t e d t h e f

t by t ak i n g i n t h at

, “ b et w een o n o r

ab o ut No v em

b er 1

, 2 0 1 0

, an d co n t i n u i ng t h ro u g h o n o r ab o u t D ecem b er 2 7

, 2 0 1 3,”

s h e un l awfu l l y t o ok m o re t han $ 1 ,5 0 0 fro m th e St at e o f Geo rg i a. A cco rd i n g t o t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, Co l e t o ok t h e m o n ey “ wi t h t h e i n t en t i o n o f d ep ri v in g th e St at e of Geo rg i a

o f s ai d m o n ey

b y an d t h ro u g h t h e act s ” d es cri b ed i n Co u n t 1

.

On t h e d ay o f h er arrai g n m en t

, Co l e fi led a “ p rel im i n a r y s p eci al dem u rrer,”

wh i ch s h e t h en am en d ed

. Fo l l o wi ng a h eari n g

, t h e tri al co u r t o v erru l ed t h e s p eci al

d em u rrer. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed a cert i fi cat e o f i m m ed i at e rev iew o f i t s o rd er, an d

t h i s C o u r t g ran t ed Co l e’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r an i nt erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

. On ap p eal

,

co n si s t en t wi t h h e r a r g u m e n t s b el o w, Co l e co nt en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

o v erru l i ng h er s p eci al dem u rrer b ecau s e (1 ) i t wa s n o t s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e i n d i ct m en t

t o id en t i fy b y t h ei r in it i al s t h e i n d i v i d u al s l i st ed i n E xh i b i t s “ A” an d “ B” t h eret o

, an d

(2 ) t h e ran g e o f d at es s et fo rt h i n t h e i n d i ct m en t was u n reas o n ab l y b ro ad

.

Th e t ru e t es t o f t h e s u f

f i ci en cy o f an i n d i ct m en t t o wi t h s t an d a s p eci al

d em u rrer i s n o t wh et h er i t co u l d h av e b e e n m a d e m o re d efi n i t e an d

3cert ai n , b u t wh et h er i t co n t ai n s t h e el em en t s o f t h e o ffen s e i n t en d ed t o

b e ch arg ed

, an d s u ffi ci en t l y ap p ri s es t h e d efen d an t o f wh a t [s h e] m u s t

b e p rep ared t o m eet

, an d

, i n cas e an y o th er p ro ceed i n g s are tak en ag ai n s t

[h er] fo r a s i m i l ar o ffen s e, wh et h er t h e reco rd s h o ws wi t h accu racy t o

wh at ex t en t [s h e] m ay p l ead a fo rm er acq u i tt al o r co n v i ct io n

. It i s u s efu l

t o rem em ber th at t h e p urp o s e o f t he in d i ct m en t i s to al l o w d efen d an t t o

p rep are [h er] d efen s e i n t el l i gen t l y an d t o p ro t ect [h e r ] f r o m d o u bl e

jeo p ard y

.

Ci t at io n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) S t a t e v. En g l i s h

, 2 7 6 G a

. 3 4 3

, 3 4 6 (2 ) (a) (5 7 8

SE2 d 4 1 3 ) (2 0 0 3 ). See Pa l a t i n i v. St a t e

, 3 3 3 Ga. A p p

. 5 2 3

, 5 2 4 (7 7 4 SE2 d 8 1 8 )

(2 0 1 5) (“ By s p eci al d em

u rrer, an accu s ed cl ai m s

, n o t t h at th e ch arg e i n an i n d i ct m en t

i s fat al l y d efect i v e an d i n cap ab l e o f s u pp o rt i n g a co n vi ct i o n

. . . , b u t rat h er t h at t h e

ch arg e i s i m

p erfect as to fo rm

o r t h at t h e accu s ed i s en t i t l ed t o m o re i n fo rm at i o n .”)

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

“ W e co nd u ct a d e n o v o rev i ew o f a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g on a s peci al d e m u rrer

i n o rd er t o d et erm i n e wh et her t h e al l eg at i o n s i n t h e i n d i ct m en t are l eg al ly s u ffi ci en t .”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted .) S t a t e v. Go d f rey

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p. 2 3 4

, 2 3 9 (3 ) (7 0 9

SE2 d 5 7 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ). W h en , as h ere, we rev iew an i n d i ct m en t befo re a t ri al

, “ we m u s t

ap p ly t h e ru l e th at a d efen d an t wh o h as ti m el y fi l ed a s p eci al dem u rrer i s en t i t l ed to

4an in d ict m en t p erfect i n fo rm an d s u b s t an ce.” S t a te v. Ga mb l i n

, 2 5 1 G a. A p p

. 2 8 3,

2 8 4 (1 ) (5 5 3 SE2 d 8 66 ) (2 0 0 1 ).

1

. Co l e co n t en d s t hat t he t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d in g t h at i t was s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e

i n d i ct m en t t o i d en t i fy th e in d i v i d u al s nam ed t h erei n m erel y b y t h ei r i n it i al s. Ex h i b i t

“ A” an d Ex h i b i t “ B” t o th e in d i ct m en t

, i n co rp o rat ed t h e r e i n b y referen ce, each

co n tai n s a l i s t of p at i en t s i d en t i fi ed b y t h ei r i n i ti al s

, d at es of b i rt h

, t h e las t fo u r d i g i t s

o f t h ei r M ed i cai d i den t i f i c at i o n n u m

b ers

, t he fi rs t an d l as t d at es o f s erv i ce fo r t h e

p at i en t s

, an d th e am o u n t o f th e al l eg ed o v erp a ym en t wi t h res p ect t o each p at i en t

.

Acco rd in g t o t h e i n d i ct m en t

, t h e p at i en t s l i s t ed i n Ex hi b i t “ A” are t h e p at i en t s wh o

d i d no t recei v e t h e ex t en t o f s erv i ces b i l l ed

, an d t h e p ers o n s l i s t ed i n Ex h ib i t ‘ B” are

t h e pat i en t s fo r w h i ch Co l e bi l l ed fo r s erv i ces fo r wh i ch th ere was n o s u b s t an t i at i n g

d o cu m en t at i o n

. Th e 4 4 p at i en t s t h ereb y i d en t i fi ed are al l m i n o rs

, an d t h e St at e

o m it t ed t h ei r fu l l nam es fro m t h e i n d i ct m en t o ut of a co n cern t hat t he ex h i b i t s

referen ced “ s en s i t i v e h eal t h i n fo rm at i o n .”

Gen eral ly

, “ if [a ch arg in g i n s t ru m en t ] ch arg es t h e d efen d an t wi t h co m m i t t i n g

a cri m e ag ai n s t a p ers on

, t he i n ju red p ers o n s h o u ld b e i d en t if i e d i n t h e [ch arg i n g

i n s t ru m en t ] .” S t a t e v. Ken n ey

, 2 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. 29 8

, 2 9 9 (1 ) (a) (5 0 3 SE2 d 5 8 5 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

5In t h is cas e, h owev er, t h e i n d i ct m en t d o es n o t ch arg e Co le wi t h co m m i t t i n g a cri m e

ag ai n s t a p er

s o n bu t ag ai n s t t h e St at e o f G eo rg i a. In d eed

, Co l e co n ced es t h at t h e

p at i en t s l i s t ed i n t h e ex h i b i t s a re n o t t h e vi ct im s o f t h e al l eg ed cri m es o f Med i cai d

frau d an d th eft b y tak i n g

. 1 Th u s

, S el l er s v. S t a t e

, 2 6 3 G a

. A p p

. 1 4 4

, 1 4 5 -1 4 6 (5 8 7

SE2 d 2 7 6 ) (2 0 0 3), an d Dr i g g er s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 71 1

, 7 1 7 (4 ) ( a) (6 7 3 SE2 d

9 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ), wh i ch fo u n d t hat an i n d i ct m en t ’ s id en t i fi cat io n o f a v i ct i m b y i n i t i al s was

n o t s u ffi ci en t t o wi t h s t an d a s p eci al d em urrer, are d i s t i ng u is h ab le. Th e o m i s s i o n o f

i n d i v i d u al s ’ n am es fro m an i nd i ct m en t i s n o t a g ro u n d fo r s u s t ai ni ng a s p eci al

d em u rrer wh ere, as i n t h e cas e o f t h es e p at i en t s

, th e i n d i v i d u al s “ are on l y co l l at eral l y

i n v o l v ed i n t h e al leg ed o ffen se.” S t a t e v. Ken n ey , 2 33 Ga. Ap p. at 2 99 (1 ) (a).

F u rt h er, co nt rary t o Co l e’ s co nt en t i o n

, t h e in d i ct m en t d i d n o t i d en t i fy t h e

p at i en t s s o l el y b y th ei r i n i t i al s ; rat h er, t he i n cl u s i o n of ad d i t i o n al i n fo rm at i o n

, t h at i s

,

e a c h p at i en t ’ s d at e o f b i rt h an d t h e l as t fo ur di g i t s t h e p at i en t s ’ u ni q ue Med i cai d

1 Th e v i ct i m of bo t h cri m es was t he St a t e o f G e o r g i a. Th e p ro p ert y t ak en in

ch arg e o f t h eft b y t ak i n g is id en t i fi ed a s b el o n g in g t o t h e St at e. A s t o t h e cri m e o f

M ed i cai d frau d

, OCGA § 4 9 -4 -1 4 6 .1 (b ) (1 ) pro v i d es t h at it i s u n lawfu l “ [f] o r an y

p ers o n o r p ro vi d er t o o b t ai n

. . . an y m ed i cal as s i s t an ce o r o t h er b en efi t s o r p ay m en t s

u n d er t hi s art i cl e

. . . t o wh i ch t h e pers o n o r p ro v i d er i s n o t en t i t l ed

. . . .” “ Pay m en t ”

i s defi n ed i n ap p l i cab l e p art

, as “ a p ay m en t o r ap p ro v al fo r p ay m en t

, an y p o rt i o n o f

wh i ch i s p ai d b y

t h e Geo rg i a M ed i cai d p ro g ram .” OCGA § 4 9-4 -1 4 6.1 (a) (5 ).

6i d en t i fi cat i o n n u m b er, en s ured t h at each p at ien t w as s p eci fi cal ly i d en t i fi ed

. 2 In

co n tras t t o S

el l er s

, th e reco rd d o es n o t s h o w t h at “ t he i n i t i al s

. . . co u l d ap p l y t o an y

[p ers o n ] h av i n g [t h e s am e] i n i t i al s .” S el l er s v. S t a t e

, 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 4 6.

No t w i t hs t an d i n g it s i d en t i fi cat i o n o f t he p at i en ts

, i n part

, b y t h ei r i n it i al s

, t h e

i n d i ct m en t was su ffi ci en t to al lo w Co l e “ t o p rep are [h er] d efen s e i n t el li g en t l y an d to

p ro t ect [h er] fro m d o u b l e j eo p ard y .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed .) S t a t e v.

En g li s h

, 27 6 Ga. at 3 46 (2 ) (a). Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t err i n fi n di n g t h at

t h e i n d i ct m en t was s u ffi ci en tl y d et ai l ed as t o t h e p at i en t s ’ i d en t i ti es

.

2

. Co le al s o co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ov erru l i n g h er s p eci al

d em u rrer wi t h reg ard t o po r t i o n s of t h e i n d i ct m en t t h at co n t en d ed t hat t h e cri m es

were co m m i t t ed o v er a ran g e of 3 8 m on t h s b ecau s e t h e s p eci fi c d at es were k n o wn to

t h e St at e. W e ag ree.

Un d er O CGA § 17 -7 -5 4

, t h e fo rm of t h e in d i ct m en t s h al l “ s t at e wi t h su ffi ci en t

cert ai n ty t h e o ffen s e an d t h e t i m e an d p l ace o f co m m i t t i n g t h e s am e[.] ” An d as a

g en eral ru l e, “ an i nd i ct m en t wh i ch fai l s t o al l eg e a s p eci fi c d at e o n wh ich t h e cri m e

was co m m i t ted i s n o t p erfect in fo rm an d i s s u b ject to a t i m el y s p e c i a l dem u rrer.”

2 Two o f t h e p at i en t s h av e t h e s am e dat e o f b i rt h an d i n i t i al s

, an d are ap p aren t l y

t wi n s , b ut t h ei r M ed i cai d i d en ti fi cat i o n n um b ers are n o t t h e s am e.

7(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed .) S ta t e v. La yma n

, 2 7 9 Ga

. 3 4 0

, 3 4 0 -3 4 1 (6 1 3

SE2 d 6 3 9 ) (2 0 0 5 ). Th i s Co u rt reco g ni zes an “ ex cep t i o n t o t h i s ru l e wh ere t h e

ev i d en ce d o es n o t p erm i t t h e St at e t o i den t i fy a s i n g l e d at e o n wh i ch t he o ffen s e

o ccu rred [.] ” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S t a t e v

. Meeks

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 5,

8 5 7 (1 ) (7 1 1 SE2 d 40 3 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Bu t “ t h e ex cep t i o n d o es n o t ap p ly u n l es s t h e St at e

f i rs t p res en t s ev i d en ce to th e t ri al co u rt s h o wi n g t h at i t can no t m o re s p ec i f i c a l l y

i d en t i fy t h e d at es o f t h e o ffen s es .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Id

.

Here, t h e St at e p res en t ed t h e t e st i m o n y o f i t s i n v es t i g at o r, Kev i n W h i t e, in

s u p p ort o f i t s co nt en t i o n t h at i t co u l d n o t al l eg e a sp eci fi c dat e fo r t he co m m i s s i o n o f

t h e a l l eg ed M ed i cai d frau d an d t h eft b y t ak i n g. W hi t e t es t i fi ed t h at h e rev i e w e d

cl ai m s co n s t it u t i n g “ wh at M s

. Co l e wo ul d hav e s u bm i t t ed t o M ed i cai d an d wh at s h e

was p ai d b y M ed icai d ,” an d he co m p ared p at i en t fi l es an d p at i en t reco rd s wi t h t h e

cl ai m s d at a. As p art of t h e i n v es t i gat i o n

, h e rev i ewed ap pro x i m a t e l y 3 ,0 0 0 cl ai m s

.

Acco rd in g t o W h i t e, t h e r a n g e o f d at es co v ered by t h e cl ai m s was fro m No v em b er

2 0 1 0 t h ro u g h th e en d o f Decem b er 2 01 3

. Cl ai m s were s u b m i t t ed b y Co l e

“ co n t i n uo u s l y

t h ro ug h o u t . . . t h at t i m e fram e.”

On cro s s -e x a m i n at i o n

, W h i t e t es t i fi ed t hat Co l e su b m i tt ed t h e cl ai m s

el ect ro ni cal l y

, wi t h each cl ai m s u b m i t t ed fo r a s peci fi c d at e an d a bi l l i n g am o u n t fo r

8t h at s p eci fi c d at e. W h i te ag reed t h at h e d et erm i n ed t h at “ so m e dat es were ev i d en ce

o f t h eft s an d s o m e d at es [were] n o t .” W h it e al s o ag reed t h at h e “ u s ed t h o s e s p eci fi c

d at es t o co m e u p wi t h a n u m ber, $ 2 9 7 ,8 3 1 .3 9

. ”

W h i t e’ s t es t i m o n y s u g g es t s t h at t h e St at e co ul d h av e i d en t i fi ed

, b y d at e, each

o f t h e el ect ro n i cal l y

fi l ed cl ai m s t h at W h i t e h ad fo u nd t o b e act s o f M ed i cai d frau d

an d t heft b y t ak i ng

. Th e St at e d i d n o t p res en t ev i d en ce s ho wi n g t h at i t co u l d n o t m o re

s p eci fi cal l y

i den t i fy t h e d at e o f each cri m i n al act

. See S t a te v. Meeks

, 3 09 Ga. Ap p.

at 8 5 7 (1 ) (fi n d i n g t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e an i n ab i l i t y t o n arro w t h e ran g e

o f d at es o n wh i ch t h e ch arg ed c r i m es o f el ect ro n i cal l y fu rn i s hi n g o bs cen e m at eri al

t o a m i n o r an d co n t ri b u t i n g t o a d el i n q u en cy o f a m i n o r were co m m i t t ed

, n ot i n g t h at

“ [o ] rd i n ari l y

, t h e dat e o n wh i ch a d o cu m en t i s creat ed or sav ed o n a co m p u ter can b e

es t ab l i s h ed , as wel l as t h e d at e o n wh i ch an e-m ai l w as s en t o r recei v ed .”) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). W h ere a d efen d an t is ch arg ed w i th co m m i t t i n g a cri m e o v er a ran g e o f

d at es

, an d t h e St at e d oes n ot p res en t ev i d en ce th at it can no t i d en t i fy t h e s p eci fi c d at es

o n wh i ch t h e cri m e was co m m i t t ed

, we hav e g en eral l y fo u n d t h e i n d i ct m en t t o b e

s u b ject t o a s p eci al d em

u rrer. Fo r ex am

p l e, i n S t a t e v. Th o ma s

, 3 31 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 0

(7 7 0 SE2 d 3 01 ) (2 0 1 5 ), w e reject ed an arg um en t b y t h e St at e t h at

, w h ere th e al l eg ed

t h eft was m ad e b y t h e u s e o f a cred i t card

, i t wa s s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e in d i ct m en t to

9al l eg e t he ran g e o f dat es i n wh i ch t h e fi n an ci al card t ran s act i on s o ccu rred

. See i d

. at

2 2 2 (“ [T] h e St at e co u l d eas il y as cert ai n t h e dat es t h e al l eg ed cri m es o ccu rred a n d

c o u l d h av e st at ed t h e m an n er i n wh i ch t h e t h eft o ccu rred

, an d i t was

, t h erefo r e

,

ap p ro p ri at e fo r t h e t ri a l c o u r t to g ran t t h e m ot i o n t o q uas h .”) (fo o tn o te o m i t t ed ). In

S o u t h v. S t a te , 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 11 0 (6 0 1 SE2 d 37 8 ) (2 0 04 ), t h e ap pel l an t , So u t h , was

ch arg ed wi t h co m

m i tt i n g t h e o ffen s e o f ag grav at ed s t al k in g “ fro m t h e 1 2 t h d ay o f

Oct o b er, 2 0 0 2 t h ro ug h t he 2 9 t h d ay o f Oct o b er, 2 0 0 2.” Id

. at 1 1 1

. W e co n cl u d ed t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g to g ran t So u t h’ s s peci al d em u rrer t o th e i n d i ct m en t

,

fi nd i ng t h at

a rev i ew of t h e reco rd i n d i cat es t h at t h e St at e co u l d h av e h ad acces s t o

t h e act u al d at es o n wh i ch t h e act s o f al l eg ed s t al k i n g occu rred

. Th e St at e

s i m p l y ch o s e n o t t o l i s t t h es e d at es d u e to t h e n u m b er o f al l eg ed act s

.

Th i s i s n o t a val i d ex cu s e fo r fai l i n g t o p ro vi d e So u th wi t h t h e d at es o f

t h e al l eg ed o ffen ses

.

Id

. at 1 1 2 (1 ). See al s o S t a t e v. Meeks

, 30 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 5 8 (1 ). Co m p are Bl a n t o n v.

S t a t e

, 3 24 G a. A pp

. 6 1 0

, 6 1 5-6 17 (2 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 4 3 1 ) (2 0 1 3) (fi n d i n g t hat t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i n g ap p el l an t ’ s s p eci al d em u rrer wh ere t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed

t h at t h e d efen d an t h ad en g ag ed i n act s o f i n ces t wi t h t h e vi ct i m o v er 5 0 t i m es d u ri n g

10t h e t wo -y ear p eri o d al leg ed i n t h e in d i ct m en t

, an d t h e v ict i m was u n ab l e to

s p eci fi cal l y

i den t i fy t h e d at e o f an y

s p eci fi c i n ci d en t ).

Here, th e ev id en ce s h o wed t h at t h e St at e h ad acces s t o t h e d at es o f t h e

“ n u m ero us fal s e cl ai m s ” t h at Co l e al l eg ed l y su b m i tt ed

, b u t ch o se n o t to id en t i fy an y

o f t h em

. Th e St at e arg u es t h at t h e r a n g e o f d a t es s et fo rt h i n th e i n di ct m en t was

n ev ert h el es s s u ffi ci en t b ecau s e t he i n d i ct m en t al l eg ed

, as t o b o t h co u n t s

, a s i n g l e

s ch em e wh i ch was co n d u ct ed o v er t h e t im e p eri o d i d en ti fi ed i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

. 3 To

s u p p ort i t s arg u m en t

, t h e St at e rel i es o n Jo h n s on v. S t a t e

, 2 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 0 (5 0 4

SE2 d 2 90 ) (1 9 9 8 ) as “ t h e cas e m o s t s i m il ar t o t h e p res en t o n e.” 4 Th ere, t he i n d i ct m en t

a l l eg ed

, i n su bs t an ce, t h at t h e d efen dan t s frau d u l en tl y o b t ai n ed m o n ey f r o m a

l ab o rat o ry “ o v er a s peci fi c t i m e p eri o d w i t hi n a s i n gl e cal en d ar y ear, b et ween t h e 1 s t

d ay of M arch

, 19 9 6

, an d t h e 3 0t h d ay o f J u ne, 1 9 9 6

, b y t h e art i fi ce o f su b m i tt i n g fo u r

3 Th e St at e al s o arg u es t h at Co l e s h o u ld n o t b e al l o wed t o “ h i de b eh i n d t h e

m ag n i tu d e an d s co p e o f h er co n d u ct ,” b u t d oes no t s h o w t hat t h e ex ten t of t h e al l eg ed

o ffen s es

, fo r wh i ch Co l e h as no t b een co n v ict ed

, d ep ri v es h er of h er ri g h t t o i n s i s t o n

an i n d ict m en t p erfect i n fo rm an d s u b s t an ce.

4 T h e St at e al s o ci t e s t o S i mmo n s v. S t a t e

, 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 0 (5 3 SE2 d 7 7 2 )

(1 9 4 9), as “ in st ru ct i v e ” t o s h o w t h at a s eri es of co nv ers i o n s co n s t i t u t es a s i n g l e

s ch em e t h at m ay ch arg ed i n a si n g le co u n t o f an i n di ct m en t

. Co le di d n o t

, h o wev er,

co n tes t t h e i n cl u s io n o f m ul t i p l e act s wi t h in each o f t h e co u n ts of M ed i cai d frau d an d

t h eft by t ak i n g

.

11s p eci fi ed b i l l i n g s w h ich i n t en t i o n al l y ov ers t at ed wo rk p erfo rm ed .” Id

. at 4 5 1-4 5 2 (2 ).

W e co n cl u d ed th at t he i n d i ct m en t s t at ed th e o ffen s e an d t he t i m e wi t h su ffi ci en t

cert ai n ty

, n o t i n g t h at t h e al l eg ed t h eft by d ecep ti o n wo u l d h av e req u i red t wo s t ep s in

b o t h s u bm i t t i n g t h e frau d u l en t b il l s an d t hen accep t i n g an y t en d ered p ay m en t s

t h erefo re. Id

. at 4 5 2 (2 ). Ou r an al y s is s u g ges t s t h at i t i s s ig ni f i c an t t h at t h e al l eg ed

cri m e was n eces s ari l y co m m i t t ed i n m

u l t i p l e s t ep s o v er a ran g e o f t i m e. Si m i l arl y

, in

t h i s cas e t h e i nd ict m en t al l eg es a frau d u l en t sch em e o v er a p e r i o d o f t i m e, an d t h at

Co l e d i d b ot h “ o b t ai n an d k eep ” t h e fu n d s t o wh i ch s h e was n ot en t i t l ed

.

W e co n cl ud e t h at Jo hn s on i s n ev ert hel es s d i s t i n g u is h ab le. Th e i nd i ct m en t at

i s su e in Jo h n s on sp eci fi cal l y i d en t ifi ed t h e fo u r b i l li n g s i n wh i ch t h e ap p el lan t s h ad

al l eg ed l y o v erch arg ed th e l ab o rat o ry d u ri n g t h e d es i gn at ed fo u r m o n t h t i m e p eri o d.

Id

. at 4 5 0 (Th e in di ct m en t al l eg ed t h at ap pel l an t s had o v ers t at ed t h e n u m b er o f

cert ai n p ro ced ures an d au d it s on “ Ph l eb ot o m y

, In c. In vo i ce n u m

b e r s 1 00 1

, 1 0 0 2,

1 0 0 3

, an d 1 0 0 4 [.] ”). T h u s

, th e defen d an t s were aware o f h o w t h e cri m e was al l eg ed

t o h av e been co m

m it ted an d co u l d p rep are t h ei r d efen ses acco rd i n gl y

. In co n t ras t to

t h e ap p e l l a n t s i n Jo h n s o n

, Co l e i s n o t ap p ri s ed b y t h e i n d ict m en t o f t h e cl ai m s t h at

12t h e St at e co n t en ds are frau d ul en t

, 5 l eav i n g Co l e u ncert ai n o f wh ich o f t h e th o u s an d s

o f cl ai m s s h e s ub m i t t ed t o M ed i cai d o v er a m ore th an t h ree y ear p eri o d are p ert i n en t

t o h er d efen s e. An d as W h i t e was aware o f t h e d at es o f t h e al l eg ed fal s e cl ai m s

, an d

t h e St at e was ab le t o u s e th e el ect ro n i c i n fo rm at io n av ai l ab le t o W h i te t o cal cu l at e t h e

am ou n t of t h e al l eg ed o v erch arg es d o wn t o t h e p en n y

, t h e St at e d i d n o t sh o w t h at i t

was un ab l e t o m o re narro wl y s t at e t h e dat es o f t he cri m es

. Th u s

, we co n cl u de,

b ecau s e t h e i nd i ct m en t al l eg es t h at t h e cri m es o f M ed i cai d frau d an d t heft b y t ak i n g

were co m m i t t e d o v er a ran g e o f d at es an d t h e St at e di d n o t es t ab l i s h t h at i t was

u n ab le t o m o re n arro w l y i d en t ify t ho s e d at es

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n den y i n g Co l e’ s

s p eci al d em

u rrer t o t h e i nd i ct m en t

. 6

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Di l l a r d

a n d McFa d

d en , JJ., co n cu r

.

5 Th e ex h i b i t s t o t h e i n di ct m en t m ay n arro w th e cl ai m s at is s u e t o s o m e ex t en t

, b u t t h ey d o n o t i d en t i fy t he cl ai m s t h at t h e St at e i d en ti fi ed as frau d ul en t b y t h ei r d at e,

o r o t h erwi s e.

6 “ [W ] e n ot e t hat

, o n s p eci al d em u rrer, t h e q u as h i n g o f an i n d i ct m en t m erel y

b ars t ri al o n th e fl awed i n s tru m en t ; i t d o es n ot b ar t h e S t a t e f r o m rei nd i ct i n g an d

t ry i n g t h e d efen d an t .” (Fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed .) S el l er s v. S t a t e , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p . at 1 4 6

.

13