ANDERSON — An Anderson man has been charged with defrauding the Indiana Medicaid program of nearly $1 million.

Dennis Lennartz, 55, was charged following a federal investigation that included the FBI, United States Attorney General for the Southern District of Indiana Timothy M. Morrison said Monday.

Lennartz is alleged to have knowingly defrauded the Indiana Medicaid program of $964,852 beginning in April 2006, by billing for services never rendered. The attorney general’s office said Lennartz also concealed his involvement from Indiana Medicaid by billing under the provider number of another company.

“Defrauding the Medicaid program isn’t fair to the taxpayers who deserve accountability,” said Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter. “Even more tragically, though, it wastes money that would otherwise provide health care for those who can’t afford to pay.

Bradley P. Shepard will prosecute the case and said Lennartz faces a maximum possible prison sentence of 20 years and a maximum possible fine of $250,000. An initial hearing has been set for Jan. 20 before a U.S. magistrate judge in Indianapolis.

“This case demonstrates the commitment of the Office of the INspector General working with our federal and state law-enforcement partners to protect our nation’s vulnerable Medicaid recipients,” said Lamont Pugh II, special agent in charge for the Chicago office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which covers Indiana.