Man Steals Money from Health Program

May 14, 2026, 18:00
USHealth

Introduction

Brett Blackman started a health company. He lied to get money from the government.

Main Body

From 2015 to 2020, Blackman used a website to steal money. He told the government that patients needed medical braces and medicine. But the patients did not need them. Doctors did not check the patients. Blackman and his friends stole a lot of money. They asked for 2 billion dollars. The government paid them over 600 million dollars. They used fake contracts to hide the money. Now the government wants to stop these crimes. They have a new team to find people who steal. Another man, Gary Cox, already went to prison for 15 years.

Conclusion

Brett Blackman will go to court on August 26. He might go to prison for 30 years.

Learning

⏳ The "Past Story" Pattern

To talk about things that already happened, we often add -ed to the action word. This is the easiest way to tell a story in English.

Look at these changes from the text:

  • start →\rightarrow started
  • use →\rightarrow used
  • ask →\rightarrow asked

The "Rule Breaker" Some words are rebels. They don't use -ed. You just have to memorize them:

  • Tell →\rightarrow Told (Not telled)
  • Go →\rightarrow Went (Not goed)
  • Pay →\rightarrow Paid (Not payed)

Quick Vocabulary Guide: Money & Law

WordSimple Meaning
StealTo take something that is not yours
FakeNot real / a lie
PrisonA place for people who break the law
CourtWhere a judge decides if someone is guilty

Vocabulary Learning

health (n.)
the condition of being physically and mentally well
Example:Health is important for everyone.
company (n.)
a business that makes or sells goods or services
Example:She works for a small company.
government (n.)
the group of people who run a country or region
Example:The government made new rules.
money (n.)
a form of currency used for buying and selling
Example:He saved his money in a bank.
steal (v.)
to take something without permission
Example:Don’t let anyone steal your phone.
lie (v.)
to say something that is not true
Example:He lied about his age.
patient (n.)
a person who receives medical care
Example:The patient was very calm.
doctor (n.)
a person who treats illnesses
Example:The doctor prescribed medicine.
check (v.)
to examine something to see if it is correct
Example:Please check your work.
contract (n.)
a written agreement between people
Example:They signed a contract.
crime (n.)
an illegal act
Example:The crime was reported to police.
team (n.)
a group of people working together
Example:The team won the match.
stop (v.)
to make something end
Example:Please stop shouting.
prison (n.)
a place where people are kept for punishment
Example:He was sent to prison.
court (n.)
a place where legal cases are heard
Example:She appeared in court.
years (n.)
a period of 365 days
Example:He has lived there for three years.
billions (n.)
a very large number, 1,000,000,000
Example:The company earned billions last year.
million (n.)
a large number, 1,000,000
Example:They raised a million dollars.
fake (adj.)
not real, made to look real
Example:He wore a fake watch.
new (adj.)
recently made or found
Example:She bought a new car.
start (v.)
to begin something
Example:We will start the meeting at nine.
need (v.)
to require something
Example:I need a cup of coffee.
ask (v.)
to request information or a favor
Example:Can I ask you a question?
hide (v.)
to keep something out of sight
Example:She hid the letter in a drawer.
go (v.)
to move from one place to another
Example:They go to school every day.