Minnesota Mother Sentenced to 39 Years for Draining Children’s Blood in Medicaid Fraud Scheme

The sterile halls of a Minnesota courtroom witnessed the culmination of a harrowing case as Jorden Borders, a 35-year-old mother from Crosslake, received a staggering 39-year prison sentence for orchestrating a disturbing Medicaid fraud scheme that involved forcibly draining her own children’s blood. In August 2025, Crow Wing County Judge Robert Tiffany imposed the 468-month sentence, condemning Borders’ calculated exploitation of her vulnerable children for financial gain. Borders was also ordered to pay substantial restitution fines, closing a case that exposed unimaginable cruelty masked as medical care.

How Did Jorden Borders Commit Medicaid Fraud?

Borders systematically subjected her children to unnecessary and traumatic blood draws, fabricating severe medical conditions to justify the procedures. Court evidence revealed she fraudulently billed Minnesota’s Medicaid program for these tests and associated treatments, pocketing reimbursements while subjecting her children to physical and psychological torture. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office prosecuted the case, stated: “Borders self-diagnosed her children with diseases like osteogenesis imperfecta, forcing them to wear boots, casts, and neck braces despite having no actual injuries.” Shockingly, one child testified that Borders coached them to fake vomiting and coughing fits during doctor visits to secure unnecessary asthma medications—all part of her elaborate deception.

The scheme unraveled when healthcare providers noticed alarming patterns in the frequency of blood draws. A whistleblower within the medical facility alerted Minnesota’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), triggering an investigation that uncovered years of intentional fraud. Prosecutors presented evidence showing Borders manipulated medical records and coached her children to perform symptoms. “The facts proved in court are horrifying,” said Ellison. “It breaks my heart to think of the torture—physical, mental, and emotional—inflicted on these children.”

Why This Case Exposes Critical Gaps in Healthcare Safeguards

Beyond the individual tragedy, Borders’ actions spotlight systemic vulnerabilities in Medicaid oversight. Nationally, healthcare fraud costs taxpayers $68 billion annually according to the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA), with complex schemes often evading detection. This case exemplifies how perpetrators exploit trust in medical systems, using children as instruments for profit. An MFCU official noted investigators found “clear evidence of intentional deception targeting the most vulnerable.” Minnesota’s Department of Health has since announced enhanced monitoring protocols, including:

• Real-time claims analytics for unusual billing patterns
• Mandatory cross-verification of pediatric diagnostic procedures
• Strengthened whistleblower protections

Ellison emphasized the broader significance of the sentencing: “This sends a message that exploiting Medicaid—especially through child abuse—will face maximum consequences.” He praised the collaborative effort between Crow Wing County, Stearns County, and state agencies in securing justice.

The sentencing of Jorden Borders underscores a terrifying intersection of parental betrayal, healthcare fraud, and systemic vulnerability. Her 39-year term reflects society’s rejection of exploiting children for profit and signals urgent reforms needed in Medicaid oversight. If you suspect Medicaid fraud, report it immediately to your state’s MFCU—your vigilance could protect a child.

Must Know

1. What is Medicaid fraud?
Medicaid fraud involves intentionally deceiving the government healthcare program for financial gain, such as billing for unnecessary services, falsifying diagnoses, or misrepresenting patient conditions. It diverts resources from legitimate care and costs taxpayers billions annually.

2. How was Jorden Borders caught?
Healthcare providers noticed irregular blood-draw patterns, prompting a whistleblower report. Minnesota’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigation uncovered fabricated medical records and evidence of coached symptoms, leading to criminal charges.

3. What sentence did Borders receive?
Borders was sentenced to 39 years (468 months) in prison in August 2025 and ordered to pay significant restitution fines following her June conviction on multiple felony fraud counts.

4. How common is child exploitation in Medicaid fraud?
While rare in its extreme brutality, cases involving children occur periodically. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 12% of Medicaid fraud cases involve pediatric beneficiaries, often through unnecessary treatments or falsified conditions.

5. What safeguards prevent similar fraud?
States are implementing AI-driven claims monitoring, mandatory second opinions for recurring pediatric procedures, and enhanced provider training to recognize signs of medical child abuse or suspicious billing.

6. How can I report suspected Medicaid fraud?
Contact your state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit or the HHS Office of Inspector General hotline. Reports can be anonymous, and protections exist for whistleblowers.