A pharmacy owner has been indicted in federal court for a conspiracy that authorities say generated ‘millions of dollars in payments for unnecessary, expensive prescriptions through bribes paid to prescribing physicians.’
44-year-old Lucky S. Ott Jr. of Boerne, Texas is charged with Conspiracy in a one-count indictment alleging that he participated in a scheme to generate revenue by paying doctors to write prescriptions for expensive drugs that were reimbursed by insurance companies.
According to the indictment:
- Ott was the owner of Boerne Drug in Boerne, Texas.
- A grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia alleges the acts occurred between 2017 and April 2019.
- According to the indictment, Ott and co-conspirators offered and paid bribes to prescribing physicians in exchange for prescriptions for expensive drugs.
- This included prescriptions to patients in the Southern District of Georgia whose information was obtained through the fraudulent use of a telemedicine call center.
- The indictment specifically notes Emanuel County
- Boerne Drug would fill those prescriptions, typically for topical creams and gels, sending the unnecessary drugs to the named patients, and then receive reimbursement from pharmacy benefit managers.
- The indictment alleges that Boerne Drug and its co-conspirators paid more than $1 million in kickbacks and bribes
- More than $10 million in reimbursements from insurance programs, including Medicare and Tricare, were allegedly received by Boerne Drug and its co-conspirators.
Internet search results indicate Boerne Drug has since closed.
David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, in his announcement, said the charge carries a statutory penalty of up to 15 years in prison. Those convicted could also face substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release following any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Prescription drug fraud increases health care costs for everyone, including taxpayers who subsidize social safety net programs,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will identify and shut down operations using illegal means to enrich those who profit at patient and taxpayer expense.”
The FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service are investigating this case. Prosecutors include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Porter and Ryan C. Grover.
Criminal indictments contain only charges. Defendants maintain the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty.
https://thegeorgiavirtue.com/wordpress/1/2022/08/1.pdf
My wife received a call from Boerne Drug and received Ilidocain and Fluocinanide – Have 3 boxes of Lidocain Rx# 603511 dated 1/17/2017. We live in Texas. The scam was active here, apparently. Probably nationwide. They seem to have obtained contact info from the medicare system or some such thing.
Would the prosectors like my info? Please share this and have them contact me at 409-718-2268