Session. #1 (One Hour):
Speaker: United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, Esq
Subject: Fighting Fraud in the Western District of Tennessee

The Honorable D. Michael Dunavant is currently serving for the second time as the Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee and was sworn into office on October 10, 2025. In that role, he is the 50^th and 54^th person to serve as the chief federal prosecutor and legal representative of the United States for the 22 counties and approximately 1.6 million citizens of West Tennessee. Mr. Dunavant is the first person to serve the district twice as the Presidential appointee, having previously served as U.S. Attorney from 2017–2021 during the first Trump administration.

In addition to his service as the U.S. Attorney, Mr. Dunavant has served as the Deputy Executive Director of Legal Services & Policy for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference from 2023-2025; the Chief Investigative Counsel for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Division of Investigations from 2021-2023; and the elected District Attorney General for the 25^th Judicial District of Tennessee, where he served as the chief state criminal prosecutor for Lauderdale, Tipton, Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy counties in West Tennessee from 2006-2017. Prior to his service as District Attorney, Mr. Dunavant was a partner in the law firm of Carney, Wilder & Dunavant in Ripley, Tennessee. 

A native of Ripley, TN,  Mr. Dunavant holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree with honors from the University of Mississippi Ole Miss, and has been practicing law in Tennessee since 1995. 

Session. #2 (Two Hours):
Speaker: Shawn Phillips, CFE, CFI, CFCI, CIFI, CECFE
Subject: Insurance Fraud: The New Organized Crime?

Shawn is a results-driven leader that develops talent and consistently leverages innovation to achieve business outcomes with impact. He has a proven ability to transform vision into execution while leading diverse teams to successful outcomes. He is an experienced investigative professional leading, managing and conducting complex criminal and civil investigations with 20 years dedicated to anti-fraud programs: conducting audits and investigations to identify fraud, waste, and abuse of insurance programs.

Shawn is a judiciary recognized subject matter expert in the identification, investigation and analysis of fraud schemes with a specialized focus in fraud, waste, and abuse of insurance programs.

To date, Shawn has completed over 8,000 hours of specialized training and holds multiple industry professional certifications and designations. He is active in industry professional organizations, as a current or past officer/board member and has received multiple professional industry awards. He routinely lectures as a subject matter expert for Academic, Legal, Public Safety and Industry Associations.

Shawn, strives to be a servant leader and embraces the pillars of Servant Leadership. His desire is to live as a man of faith and character who puts people first, and as a skilled communicator and compassionate collaborator, who leads with moral authority.

He considers his greatest blessing to be sharing life’s adventures with his wife of 28 years, daughter and pug.

Session. #3 (Two Hours): Ethics
Speaker: David Alfini, Esq
Subject: Ethics

I am passionate about the defense and counseling of clients in the Aging Services space. For more than two decades, I have served nursing homes, assisted living communities, and home health and home care companies—working to develop policies and procedures, admissions contracts, and other materials to help minimize risk. This includes developing training programs for all levels of employees. I work collaboratively with clients to provide proactive advice and reactive counsel. And it starts at your office or in your community. In the event that a suit is filed, I defend the case in either trial or arbitration and have tried to verdict cases in Illinois, New York and California.

INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT Developing and leading continuing education programs is one of my favorite activities. It helps me to be part of the dialog within the industry and gives me a chance to meet and interact with a wide variety of professionals and learn the challenges that they are confronting. I am involved in numerous trade organizations, including LeadingAge Illinois and Home Care Association of America Illinois Chapter.

HINSHAW & CULBERTSON LLP I have been an attorney with Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP since November, 2000. I am currently an equity partner, Chair of the Mentoring Committee and Co-Chair of the Firm’s LGBTQ Affinity Group. One thing I am most proud of is that my firm has had a 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (HRC / CEI) since 2009. I am one of the individuals who participates in the submission every year and am happy to discuss the firm’s efforts.

Session. #4 (One Hour):
Speaker: Brock Sain & Eric Branson
Subject: Case Study on Pharmaceutical Fraud "Foot Fraud"
               The identification, investigation, trial and conviction of Dr. Nathan Lucas.

Brock Bio:
Brock Sain serves as the Assistant Director of the Administrative Services Division.  Assistant Director Sain completed his Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry at the University of Mississippi in 2009. In 2010, he began working for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in the Forensic Services Division. During his time in Forensics, he worked in Drug Identification and Firearms and Tool Mark Identification. He also served as a Team Lead for the Violent Crime Response Team, a Firearms Instructor, Emergency Vehicle Operator Instructor, and Use of Force Simulator regional operator.

In 2020, he began working investigations as Special Agent in the Medicaid Fraud Control Division. He completed numerous workshops and training courses from the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units, National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). He is currently an associate member of the ACFE. He was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge, managing daily operations and investigations.

In 2025, he was promoted to Special Agent in Charge in Administrative Services. In this role, he handled Internal Affairs for the Bureau and managed Fleet Services, Procurement, and Warehouse. He also served as the facilities safety coordinator.

He currently oversees the Administrative Services Division which includes Human Resources, Fiscal, Protective Services, Internal Affairs, Safety, and Logistics Operations.

Eric Bio:
Eric Branson is a special agent with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Eric has substantial experience investigating healthcare fraud, spending time at both a Medicare and Medicaid contractor as well as working for the US Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Tennessee prior to becoming an agent. During that time, he has investigated fraud committed against both government and commercial insurance payors perpetrated by doctors, laboratories, pharmacies, home health agencies, durable medical equipment suppliers, and other healthcare providers. Eric graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice.