Anthony Waddell Jefferson: Federal Wire Fraud Guilty Plea and Medicaid Scam Warning

Anthony Waddell Jefferson, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been flagged on Hucksters.net’s scam report registry as a person of serious concern. His listing is well-supported by a documented federal criminal case. On February 9, 2026, Jefferson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme that stole approximately $3.5 million from Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) Medicaid program.

This blacklist profile exists to warn consumers, healthcare organizations, government contractors, and the general public. Anyone who encounters Anthony Waddell Jefferson, his known business entities, or his associates should proceed with extreme caution.

Who Is Anthony Waddell Jefferson?

Anthony Waddell Jefferson is a Philadelphia-based individual who exploited Minnesota’s Medicaid system through a fraudulent housing services company. He registered Chozen Runner LLC in Minnesota in February 2022, reportedly after a friend described the HSS program as a lucrative and easy opportunity. Jefferson had no prior connections to Minnesota and no legitimate background in housing services.

Jefferson co-ran the scheme alongside Lester Brown, 53, also of Philadelphia. Brown operated a companion company called Retsel Real Estate LLC (notably, “Retsel” is “Lester” spelled backward). Together, the two men marketed their operations under the shared brand “The Housing Guys.” They rented downtown Minneapolis office space and repeatedly flew between Philadelphia and Minneapolis to execute their fraud, a pattern federal investigators labeled “fraud tourism.”

Known Identifiers and Business Entities

  • Full Name: Anthony Waddell Jefferson
  • Age: 37 (as of 2026)
  • Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Company: Chozen Runner LLC (registered in Minnesota, February 2022)
  • Operating Alias: “The Housing Guys” (shared brand with co-conspirator)
  • Co-Conspirator: Lester Brown (Retsel Real Estate LLC)

How the Fraud Scheme Worked

Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program is a Medicaid-funded benefit designed to help vulnerable individuals, including seniors, people with physical disabilities, people with mental illnesses, and those in substance use recovery, find and maintain stable housing. The program had low documentation barriers at the time Jefferson exploited it, making it a target for bad actors.

Anthony Waddell Jefferson and Lester Brown recruited approximately 230 Medicaid beneficiaries from homeless shelters and Section 8 housing facilities across the Minneapolis area. They enrolled these individuals in the HSS program under their respective LLCs, then submitted billing claims for housing stabilization services that were never actually delivered.

When investigators began requesting documentation, Jefferson fabricated records to cover the scheme. He submitted fake client notes, invented employees, hired family members and associates to generate false paperwork, and used ChatGPT to generate fraudulent documentation, including client reports and emails. This made the Jefferson case the first known AI-assisted healthcare fraud prosecution in Minnesota’s history.

Between February 2022 and June 2025, the combined claims submitted by Chozen Runner LLC and Retsel Real Estate LLC totaled $3,568,171. Jefferson and Brown also cross-referenced each other’s client rosters to maximize fraudulent billing output.

Federal Charges and Guilty Plea

Anthony Waddell Jefferson was indicted on federal wire fraud charges following a joint investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, the FBI, the IRS Criminal Investigation division, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Jefferson pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he faces a sentencing range of 5 to 6.5 years in federal prison, with a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years. He also faces fines between $25,000 and $250,000 and is expected to pay $3.5 million in restitution. As of the latest available reporting, sentencing has not yet been scheduled and Jefferson remains free pending that hearing.

Co-defendant Lester Brown pleaded guilty on the same day and faces a sentencing range of 3.5 to 4.5 years in federal prison under his plea agreement.

Victims and Community Impact

The individuals most harmed by Anthony Waddell Jefferson’s conduct were among Minnesota’s most vulnerable residents. Jefferson and Brown specifically targeted people at homeless shelters and Section 8 housing, populations that depend on legitimate social services. By enrolling these individuals in a program and billing for services that were never provided, Jefferson diverted Medicaid funds meant to stabilize housing for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

The case is part of a broader wave of HSS Medicaid fraud in Minnesota. State and federal investigators have noted that fraudulent billing may account for a significant portion of HSS program expenditures statewide. The Jefferson and Brown case drew national attention and was cited in congressional discussions about Medicaid oversight failures.

Why Anthony Waddell Jefferson Appears on This Blacklist

Anthony Waddell Jefferson’s listing on Hucksters.net and this blacklist registry reflects a pattern of deliberate, sustained fraud. He did not make a single mistake; he operated a fraudulent business for over three years, fabricated government documentation, used AI tools to generate false records, and specifically preyed on disabled and homeless individuals to do it.

Any individual or organization considering a business arrangement, housing services contract, or financial transaction involving Anthony Waddell Jefferson or Chozen Runner LLC should treat this record as a firm warning. Conduct due diligence, verify all credentials and licenses independently, and consult legal counsel before proceeding.

Steps to Take If You Have Been Targeted

  • Preserve all communications, contracts, receipts, and records involving Jefferson or Chozen Runner LLC.
  • Report suspected fraud to the HHS Office of Inspector General using their official fraud hotline.
  • File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice Fraud Section.
  • Contact the Minnesota Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit if the matter involves Minnesota-based Medicaid services.
  • Use payment methods with dispute protections and avoid wire transfers or cash payments to unverified service providers.

Summary of Known Facts

Anthony Waddell Jefferson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania operated Chozen Runner LLC as a fraudulent Medicaid housing services provider in Minnesota from February 2022 through June 2025. He recruited 230 vulnerable Medicaid beneficiaries from shelters and Section 8 housing, billed the state for services never rendered, fabricated documentation using ChatGPT, and defrauded taxpayers of approximately $3.5 million. He pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud on February 9, 2026, and faces up to 6.5 years in federal prison and $3.5 million in restitution.

This blacklist report is based on the original Hucksters.net scam report for Anthony Waddell Jefferson, federal court records, Department of Justice press releases, and reporting from multiple verified news organizations. The public record on Anthony Waddell Jefferson is clear: avoid any business dealings with this individual.