LEXINGTON – Timothy M. Longmeyer, the former Secretary of the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, solicited and accepted over $200,000 in kickbacks during his tenure, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court on Friday.
An affidavit filed with the complaint alleges that Longmeyer accepted kickbacks from a private consulting company, in exchange for his help in securing multi-million dollar contracts for the consultant, which allowed the consultant to work with the insurance companies who provide healthcare coverage to everyone employed by the state.
As Secretary of the Personnel Cabinet, Longmeyer was responsible for overseeing the Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan (“KEHP”). The KEHP contracted with Humana, Inc. (“Humana”) and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (“Anthem”) to provide healthcare coverage under the KEHP.
Longmeyer used his position to persuade Humana and Anthem to hire the private consultant for services, such as focus groups and telephone surveys. In return, Longmeyer accepted recurring payments from the consultant, including cash and straw contributions to certain political campaigns. The consultant made these payments with the proceeds from contracts with Humana and Anthem.
Longmeyer resigned from the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet on September 30, 2015. During the year leading up to his resignation, Longmeyer solicited approximately $212,500 in kickbacks from the consultant, according to the complaint. Longmeyer received approximately $203,500 in cash and straw campaign contributions.
Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Howard Marshall, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly made the announcement today after the complaint was filed.
Longmeyer is scheduled to appear in court on April 20, at 1:30 p.m. He will face up to 10 of years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statutes.
Any criminal complaint is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.