Attorney General Liz Murrill announced on April 21 that Alice Wallace, the mayor of Winnsboro, was arrested by the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation for allegedly committing Medicaid fraud involving approximately $75,000 in benefits.
The case highlights efforts by state authorities to address misuse of government assistance programs and uphold accountability among public officials. The investigation was initiated following a referral from the Louisiana Department of Health.
According to investigators, Wallace is accused of failing to report changes in her household income and marital status between 2021 and 2026. She also allegedly did not disclose employer-provided health insurance while receiving Medicaid benefits for herself and a dependent. Agents said that from 2021 through 2022 she did not inform authorities about her employment or salary. From 2022 onward, as elected mayor of Winnsboro, she reportedly continued to withhold information about her job and medical coverage while receiving benefits.
The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation found that Wallace’s actions resulted in six counts of government benefits fraud spanning five years. The combined loss in claims is estimated at around $75,000. “It doesn’t matter who you are—if you defraud the hardworking taxpayers of Louisiana, you’re going to jail,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill.
Wallace surrendered to agents on April 21 and was booked into East Baton Rouge Prison; her bond has not yet been set. The investigation remains ongoing.
The Louisiana Department of Justice serves as the state’s primary legal office under an independently elected attorney general according to its official website. It provides legal services statewide and works to preserve culture and heritage through legal means according to its official website. The department also focuses on protecting constitutional rights for citizens according to its official website, with Murrill having challenged federal overreach in more than thirty-five cases according to its official website.
