On September 6, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a federal jury convicted four pharmacy owners—Raef Hamaed of Maricopa County, Arizona; Kindy Ghussin of Greene County, Ohio; Ali Abdelrazzaq of Macomb County, Michigan; and Tarek Fakhuri of Windsor, Ontario, Canada—on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. The defendants, all licensed pharmacists, owned and operated pharmacies in Michigan and Ohio.
According to the DOJ, the pharmacy owners billed Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for prescription medications that were never dispensed, resulting in over $13 million in fraudulent claims. Abdelrazzaq and Fakhuri were also convicted of additional counts of health care fraud.
The sentencing hearings will be set at a later date, with each defendant facing up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy count, and Abdelrazzaq and Fakhuri facing up to 10 years on each health care fraud count. A federal district court judge will determine sentences.
Health care fraud investigations can have severe consequences, including substantial fines, penalties, and imprisonment. If you or your business is under investigation, it is critical to seek experienced legal counsel immediately. Early intervention by knowledgeable attorneys can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman represent clients of all types and sizes in connection with criminal healthcare fraud and government investigations. If you need assistance with such a matter, please contact us today.