Healthcare Facility Fraud – Pharmacy Fraud
A New York woman was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for defrauding health care programs, including more than $6.5 million from Medicare Part D plans and Medicaid drug plans.
According to court documents, Aleah Mohammed, 37, of Queens, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, one count of health care fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to court documents, Mohammed was an owner and operator of five pharmacies: Superdrugs Inc., Superdrugs I Inc., Superdrugs II Inc., S&A Superdrugs II Inc. and Village Stardrugs Inc. Between 2015 and 2020, Mohammed used these pharmacies to defraud health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, by submitting claims for prescription drugs that were not dispensed, not prescribed as claimed, not medically necessary, or that were purportedly dispensed during a time when the pharmacy was no longer registered with the State of New York. The fraudulent claims included claims for expensive prescription drugs for the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Mohammed used proceeds of the scheme to purchase herself luxury items, such as jewelry and a Porsche.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York; Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Office of Investigations; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll of the FBI’s New York Field Office made the announcement.
HHS-OIG and the FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Andrew Estes and Patrick J. Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Tags: Healthcare Fraud Insurance Fraud Medically Unnecessary Pharmacy Crime