Federal Health Care Fraud Takedown in Northeastern U.S. Results in Charges Against 48 Individuals, including Cuba, NY resident

The Justice Department today announced a coordinated health care fraud enforcement action across seven federal districts in the Northeastern United States, involving more than $800 million in loss and the distribution of over 3.25 million pills of opioids in “pill mill” clinics.  The takedown includes new charges against 48 defendants for their roles in submitting over $160 million in fraudulent claims, including charges against 15 doctors or medical professionals, and 24 who were charged for their roles in diverting opioids.  

Among those charged in the Western District of New York are the following:

Karen Melton, 45, of Cuba, New York, was charged with obtaining controlled substances through fraud.  Melton, a medical secretary working for a physician in Olean, New York, was not licensed to prescribe controlled substances.  However, Melton allegedly used her access within the office to issue fraudulent prescriptions in her own name in both paper and electronic form.  The prescriptions were allegedly issued without a legitimate medical purpose.  Between September 2016 and May 2019, Melton allegedly issued 59 fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances, including hydrocodone.  The DEA conducted the investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler and Misha A. Coulson.

The complete press release is HERE.