Daily Briefing: Just how deep is alleged fraud at Recovery Connection Centers

ALSO: With the NCAA Tournament about to start how is Massachusetts' foray into sports betting going. [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Wed Mar 15 2023 Will Richmond | Managing Editor Communities & R.I. [@Will_Richmond]( Good morning, I'm Will Richmond at The Providence Journal and this is the Daily Briefing. About two weeks ago the U.S. Attorney's office in Providence announced that Recovery Connection Centers of America was being accused of defrauding Medicaid and other insurers out of millions of dollars and scamming as many as 1,800 patients seeking drug treatment services. Additionally, Michael Brier, 60, of Newton, Massachusetts, identified as the CEO of Recovery Connection Centers of America, and Mi Ok Bruining, 62, of Warwick, an agency supervisor were being charged. Now details of the case show just what was happening at the business headquartered in Providence and led the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston division, to call Brier’s alleged actions “reprehensible.” [02 Recovery 03082023] Now closed Recovery Connection Centers of America located on Wickenden St. in Providence. Kris Craig, The Providence Journal After digging through the 63-page affidavit, The Journal's Tom Mooney lays out just how audacious the claims made by federal prosecutors are even as Brier claimed to care deeply about the clients seeking addiction treatment and therapy. [Check out Tom's story and find out just how deep the scheme went.]( Don't wait to get a Providence Journal subscription. [Check out our latest offer here.]( WORTH A READ • 20 years ago, a girl survived a deadly Yonkers, New York, fire. [Her story has gone untold until now.]( • [Sports betting is off to a fast start in Massachusetts.]( • ICYMI: Text messages are at the center of a lawsuit over the Rhode Island [cold case murder of a 10-year-old.]( TOP STORIES [RI woman in 'stolen valor' case is sentenced – here's what she'll serve]( [The Purple Heart, a decoration awarded to those who are wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. military. It was modeled after the Badge of Military Merit established by George Washington in 1782]( Cavanaugh, who pleaded guilty in the 'stolen valor' case that broke last year, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars pretending to be a disabled Marine. [READ MORE]( [The Providence Public Schools District offices on Westminster Street. The district has seen an exodus of teachers and other school employees in recent months and is recruiting replacements.]( [Providence schools lost more teachers than they brought in last year]( A new analysis shows PPSD is losing some staff to other districts, but it could be worse. [READ MORE]( [DeLuise Bakery in Providence makes classic zeppole in pastry cream and chocolate.]( [For subscribers] [Don't know where to score a zeppole? Try these pastry shops]( From Irish cream to pistachio, you can get a zeppole perfect for you. [READ MORE]( [Providence's Bryce Hopkins (23) puts up the ball for a pair of points as Marquette's Kam Jones defends during overtime of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)]( [Here are the 5 wins that got Providence into the NCAA tourney]( Home wins over Big East powerhouses played the biggest role in Providence reaching March Madness as a No. 11 seed [READ MORE]( Can you survive the madness? Free to enter! 5K to win! Get in on the action with USA TODAY Sports' men's and women's NCAA tournament survivor pools. [MAKE YOUR PICKS ➔]( [MAKE YOUR PICKS ➔]( Sign up for the news you want Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don’t miss out! We’re always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. [SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔]( [SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔]( Follow Us Problem viewing email? [View in browser]( [Unsubscribe]( • [Manage Newsletters]( • [Terms of Service]( • [Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights]( • [Privacy Notice]( • [Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy]( • [Feedback](