A Chalmette woman was arrested by AG Murrill's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation for defrauding the Medicaid program of more than $119,000.

The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) received a criminal referral from Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) regarding allegations that 39-year-old Lindsi Melerine, of Tournefort Street in Chalmette, and a Medicaid recipient, had underreported her income for purposes to receive Medicaid benefits.

During this investigation, LBI agents learned that in the period between July 2021 and November 2025, Melerine provided false information to LDH by concealing her marital status and true household income.  As a result, Melerine defrauded the Medicaid program of more than $119,000. 

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, LBI agents arrested Melerine pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by the 19th Judicial District Court on charges pertaining to:

• L.R.S. 14:70.9 Government Benefits Fraud

• L.R.S. 14:133 Filing False Public Records

Melerine was booked without incident at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. 

Her bond information is unknown at this time.

The investigation is ongoing.

*All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty