Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that former Alabama Medicaid employee Natalie Lewis has been sentenced for aggravated theft by deception in connection with the theft of more than $100,000. In August, Lewis pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Circuit Court for wrongfully entering 1,631 illegal claims totaling $103,413.26. She was sentenced to ten years in prison, with three years to serve. After serving three years, Lewis will be placed on probation for two years, with the remaining seven years suspended. Judge Reid ordered Lewis to begin serving her sentence immediately in the county jail. At a later date, the court will determine whether Lewis may serve the remainder of her three-year sentence in the community corrections program. As required by state law, Lewis will forfeit her state retirement benefits because she used her official position to commit a felony. While she will not receive her state-funded retirement, she is entitled to the contributions she made to her retirement account with interest. Lewis has agreed that those funds will be applied toward restitution owed.