Four Pharmacists Sentenced in $13 Million Medicare Healthcare Fraud Scheme

The DOJ announced that four pharmacists have been sentenced for their roles in a massive healthcare fraud scheme that defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan out of over $13 million. The pharmacists will now face prison sentences ranging from two to ten years.

The defendants, Raef Hamaad, Tarek Fakhuri, Ali Abdelrazzaq, and Kindy Ghussin, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud. They operated five pharmacies across Michigan and Ohio—Eastside Pharmacy, Harper Drugs, Wayne Campus Pharmacy, Heartland Pharmacy, and Heartland Pharmacy. The pharmacists used the foregoing pharmacies to bill for prescription medications that were never actually dispensed. 

Hamaad was sentenced to ten years, Fakhuri was sentenced to seven years, Ghussin was sentenced to five years and five months, and  Abdelrazzaq was sentenced to two years. The investigation, led by the FBI Detroit Field Office and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), revealed that the fraudulent activities took place over several years, causing substantial financial losses to the healthcare programs. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of federal agencies to crack down on healthcare fraud and protect the integrity of public health programs.

As the Justice Department continues to pursue these cases, it is crucial for healthcare providers and insurers to maintain robust compliance programs to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman support and guide internal investigations to ensure compliance and mitigate the risk of litigation. The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman also represent clients of all types and sizes in connection to healthcare fraud investigations and litigation.  If you need assistance with such a matter, please contact us today.