Brighton CEO Faces Health Care Fraud Charges

A CEO in Michigan is in hot water. Tamela Peterson, who ran centers for addiction and mental health treatment, is now facing health care fraud charges. This is on top of the second-degree murder charge she's already dealing with. Back in January 2026, she was arraigned on nine counts of health care fraud. Each charge could land her up to four years in prison and fines of up to $50, 000. Peterson used to be the CEO of The Oxford Recovery Center in Brighton and The Oxford Center in Troy. These places helped people with addiction and mental health issues, including kids in autism programs. But prosecutors say she knew about fraudulent billing at her centers. They claim she personally benefited from submitting false claims for services that were never actually provided. This all started back in September 2022 when former patients and health care providers complained. The Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, spoke out about it. She said that false claims don't just hurt patients and providers. They also drive up health care and insurance costs for everyone. Nessel made it clear that her office won't tolerate people taking advantage of their practice for personal gain.But that's not all Peterson is dealing with. She, along with three other workers, is also facing charges related to a deadly hyperbaric chamber explosion. A 5-year-old boy, Thomas Cooper, died in the explosion at the Oxford Center in Troy back in January 2025. His mother was also injured. The four workers are accused of ignoring safety guidelines for operating the hyperbaric chamber. Peterson, along with Jeffrey Mosteller, Gary Marken, and Aleta Moffitt, are all facing serious charges. Peterson and Mosteller, the safety manager, along with Marken, the primary management assistant, are charged with second-degree murder. They're also facing an alternative charge of involuntary manslaughter. Moffitt, who was operating the chamber at the time of the explosion, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and falsifying medical records. The preliminary hearing for the four workers continued on Tuesday, January 20th. The judge is still deciding if there's enough evidence to send the case to circuit court for trial. As for the health care fraud case, Peterson was given a $10, 000 personal recognizance bond. She's scheduled to appear in court on January 27th for a probable cause conference. The preliminary examination is set for February 3rd.