Rhode Island

RI woman sentenced for her role as ‘five minute queen’ in ‘brazen’ health care fraud

Published

1 year ago

March 5, 2025

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RI woman sentenced for her role as ‘five minute queen’ in ‘brazen’ health care fraud

Mi Ok Song Bruining, 64, of Warwick, was sentenced for her role in the ‘brazen’ fraud committed by the Recovery Connections Centers of America.
She will serve three months of home confinement.
The center’s director is serving 98 months in prison.

PROVIDENCE – A Warwick social worker labeled “the five-minute queen” for the speed with which she shuttled through clients will serve three months’ on home confinement for her role in a scheme to defraud the government and insurers while robbing patients of crucial opioid treatment.

U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy on Wednesday sentenced Mi Ok Song Bruining, 64, to three years of supervised release, with the first three months on home confinement, for conspiring with her former boss to commit health care fraud out of a Providence opioid treatment center.

McElroy also ordered Bruining to perform 100 hours of community service, and pay $100,000 in restitution.

“People rely on their mental health professionals … for guidance,” McElroy said while acknowledging that Michael Brier CEO of Recovery Connections Centers of America, was the ringleader.

Bruining, who will lose her license, expressed regret in court.

“I profoundly apologize,” she said.

How the scheme went down

Brier ran Recovery Connections Centers of America, with offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts from headquarters on Wickenden Street, with Bruining acting as the supervisor.

Under the scheme, the office billed insurance companies for 45-minute counseling sessions per patient when each actually received only a few minutes of attention.

Bruining, who previously pleaded guilty, was known as the “five-minute queen” for her ability to shrink counseling sessions to mere minutes. Authorities accused her of training staff on the tactics, equipping one with a bell to ensure that patients moved briskly along.

Upon their arrest in 2023, authorities called the scheme “one of the most brazen and egregious examples of health care fraud the FBI has seen here in Rhode Island in recent history.”

McElroy sentenced Brier, of Newton, Massachusetts, to 98 months in prison for defrauding Medicare while depriving patients struggling with substance-use disorders of needed treatment. He must pay $3.5 million in restitution.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Numbers Midday, Numbers Evening winning numbers for March 5, 2026

Published

47 minutes ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 5, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Numbers numbers from March 5 drawing

Midday: 8-6-6-2

Evening: 8-1-9-8

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from March 5 drawing

03-08-09-14-30, Extra: 31

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 5 drawing

17-20-23-30-33, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

Attorney General Neronha endorses Democrat Helena Foulkes for Rhode Island Governor

Published

13 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Attorney General Neronha endorses Democrat Helena Foulkes for Rhode Island Governor

(WJAR) — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha endorsed Democrat Helena Foulkes in her bid for Rhode Island Governor on Thursday.

Neronha spoke at a campaign event with Foulkes.

The term-limited Attorney General says he hadn’t been comfortable endorsing people because of his position.

Neronha said he had gotten to know Foulkes after she reached out to him about health care, an issue Neronha has been vocal about.

“I found Helena to be a great listener, a great thought partner, a person of integrity and character, and that is foremost why I’m endorsing her today,” he said.

“What Rhode Island needs today and into the future is strong capable leadership,” he said. “This is not a state that can afford to keep muddling around in the four, eight, ten, fifteen years.”

He said Foulkes could offer bold leadership.

Neronha has publicly admitted to having a strained relationship with Gov. Dan McKee.

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This story will be updated.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Numbers Midday winning numbers for March 4, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing

07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from March 4 drawing

Midday: 2-7-4-4

Evening: 7-6-0-2

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from March 4 drawing

08-11-12-18-24, Extra: 15

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing

12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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