Easton Resident Named as Division Chief in Attorney General's Office

An Easton lawyer recently became a top ranking official in Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley's office.

George Zachos was recently named as one of Coakley's new Division Chiefs, according to a statement released Tuesday.

Zachos, who is a graduate of Boston College and Oklahoma College of Law was named as the Medicaid Fraud Division Chief, according to the statement. The Easton lawyer had previously served as a managing attorney of the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division since 2007. He also has more than 17 years of litigation experience.

In his new role, Zachos will head the department that conducts investigations and prosecutions of health care providers who defraud the Massachusetts Medicaid program, the statement said. In addition, the Medicaid Fraud Division is responsible for reviewing complaints of abuse, neglect, mistreatment and financial exploitation of patients in long-term care facilities.

Coakley praised Zachos' background and prior experiences which include supervising "investigations and prosecutions of complex criminal and civil cases, including cases involving the state False Claims Act."

Zachos also previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex DA’s Office.

“George brings the leadership, expertise, and drive needed to lead the Medicaid Fraud Division,” she said. “George is a knowledgeable attorney whose skill will be instrumental to the Division in its efforts to combat fraud, save taxpayer dollars, and protect the most vulnerable in our society from exploitation and abuse by their caregivers.”

Zachos joined three other appointments by the Attorney General's office. Melissa Hoffer was appointed as the Environmental Protection Division Chief with Betsy Harper as the division’s new Deputy Chief, and Kevin McCarthy was appointed as director of the office’s Civil Investigations Division.