| TRENTON
- Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw
announced that the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
has charged the former owner of a Monmouth
County nursing home with Medicaid fraud
for her alleged role in a kickback scheme
that netted $4,300 as a result of directing
nursing home residents to fill prescriptions
at a now-closed pharmacy.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Greta Gooden Brown, Shirley Welsh, 58, Scenic
Drive, Freehold, Monmouth County, was charged
via a Monmouth County Grand Jury indictment
with Medicaid fraud (3rd degree). If convicted,
Welsh faces up to three years in state prison
and a fine of up to $10,000.
The indictment alleges that between Jan.
1, 2000 and Feb. 20, 2002, Welsh, the former
owner/administrator/vice-president of Pineland
Rest Home, located on Highway 33, Englishtown,
Monmouth County, accepted more than $4,300
in cash kickbacks from the owner/operator
of the now defunct Belmar Hometown Pharmacy.
An investigation by the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
determined that Welsh, licensed by the New
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services,
received the alleged kickbacks in exchange
for having Pineland Rest Home residents
fill prescriptions at the Belmar Hometown
Pharmacy.
Brown noted that the Belmar Hometown Pharmacy,
formerly located on Main Street, Belmar,
Monmouth County, was owned by Michael Stavitski
who was prosecuted by the Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor, Medicaid Fraud Control
Unit. Stavitski pleaded guilty to Health
Care Claims Fraud and was sentenced on June
18, 2004 to seven years in state prison
and ordered to pay $1.1 million in restitution
and penalties.
State Investigator Anthony Iannice and Deputy
Attorney General Marquis D. Jones, Jr. coordinated
the investigation. DAG Jones presented the
case to the Monmouth County Grand Jury.
The indictment, handed-up on Feb. 28, is
an accusation. The defendant is presumed
innocent unless and until proven guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt.
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