TRENTON
- Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division
of Criminal Justice, announced that a
Passaic County pharmacist has been ordered
to pay more than $70,000 in fines and
restitution after pleading guilty to defrauding
the Medicaid Program out of more than
$35,000 by using the identifications of
unknowing Medicaid recipients to submit
forged prescriptions for payment.
The Medicaid Program, which is funded
by the state and federal governments,
provides health care services and prescription
drugs to persons unable to afford such
services and medicines.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Greta Gooden-Brown, Nino Paradiso, 61,
Poplar Drive, Morris Plains, Morris County,
was sentenced by Passaic County Superior
Court Judge Edward Gannon on April 1 to
serve 45 days in the Passaic County Sheriff’s
Labor Assistance Program, three years
probation, and to complete 100 hours of
community service in addition to the fines
and restitution.
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Gooden-Brown
noted that Paradiso pleaded guilty on
Jan. 14 to a charge of Medicaid Fraud.
In pleading guilty, Paradiso, a licensed
pharmacist and the owner/operator of Singac
Pharmacy and Surgical Supply, Route 23,
Little Falls, Passaic County, admitted
that he submitted 103 fictitious and/or
fraudulent prescription drug claims to
the Medicaid Program between February
and August, 2001. Paradiso had been charged
via a State Grand Jury indictment returned
on June 13, 2003.
An investigation by the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of the Insurance Fraud
Prosecutor’s Medicaid Fraud Section
determined that the fraudulent claims
were submitted to the Medicaid Program
using the identifications of eight Medicaid
recipients who were unaware of the fictitious
prescriptions and fraudulent claims. As
a result of the fraudulent billing scheme,
Medicaid was billed more than $35,000.
The investigation was conducted by the
Division of Criminal Justice - Office
of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s
Medicaid Fraud Section which investigates
and prosecutes criminal Medicaid fraud
cases. State Investigator Carlos Ortiz
and Deputy Attorney General Riza Dagli
coordinated the investigation.
"The
Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
will investigate and prosecute insurance
fraud in whatever form it takes. In this
case, a licensed medical professional
attempted to defraud the Medicaid Program
out of thousands of dollars - dollars
that were then unavailable to assist truly
needy families,” said Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor Gooden-Brown.
www.NJInsuranceFraud.org
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