Battle Creek Man Who Used Tax Dollars for a Fortune Teller Gets Prison Time

The former CEO of Summit Pointe was convicted of fraud and embezzlement of Medicaid dollars and will have to serve time and repay the money.

A former Battle Creek CEO is in prison for using company money on a fortune teller. Shouldn't she have seen this coming?

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette this week announced the sentencing of Ervin Brinker for two counts of Medicaid Fraud Conspiracy and one count of Embezzlement by a Public Officer. Brinker, former CEO of Summit Pointe, a Community Mental Health Authority in Battle Creek, was sentenced to 32 months to 10 years in prison.

Summit Pointe records showed over $500,000 was awarded on two separate contracts to pay a “health care consultant” in Key West, Florida. It turns out the money went to a psychic palm reader and her husband.

Brinker pleaded guilty as charged in November 2015 and as part of his plea agreement, according to a press release, Brinker will pay $1,020,000, which includes $510,000 in restitution to Summit Pointe and an additional $510,000 civil penalty to the State of Michigan.