Four people who owned or worked at pharmacies in New Jersey and New York have been charged in a $99 million fraud scheme, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
The four pharmacy workers are accused of bribing physicians in the form of kickbacks and conspiring to commit healthcare and wire fraud. The scheme allegedly began in 2009.
According to the indictment, unsealed Sept. 16, the four owned or worked for the now-defunct Prime Aid pharmacies. The pharmacy processes expensive specialty drugs.
The four workers allegedly bribed physicians with cash and lavish meals to steer prescriptions to Prime Aid pharmacies.
In many cases the pharmacy workers received reimbursement for the expensive drugs although they were never given to patients, the Justice Department said. The pharmacies would submit bills for refills even though patients didn't need them, the indictment alleges.
Three of the workers, Ruben Sevumyants, Samuel Khaimov and Yana Shtindler were previously charged. Alex Fleyshmakher, was arrested Sept. 16.
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