8 in the greatest federal opioid and health care sting ever



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A doctor, a medical billing company owner and an MTA bus driver from Middlesex County were among the eight most influential people in New Jersey this week. by the Justice Department. "

Six of the Eighties in New Jersey hail from the state.

They include Anthony Pepe III, 40, of Cherry Hill, and Daniel Watson, 39, of Bellmawr, who allegedly worked with a Philadelphia man, Prussia Hing, 35, to sell oxycodone pills in front of the hospital where one of them worked as an anesthetic technologist, according to a statement from the US Attorney's Office in New Jersey.

Charged in connection with alleged fake Brian Catanzarite, 42, of Cedar Grove, Enver Kalaba, 36, of Old Bridge, Tiffany Marsh, 40, of West Orange, and Keasam Johnson, 34, of East Orange, the release said. Robert Agresti, 61, a doctor from Essex Falls, New York, was also involved with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

The wide-ranging investigation led to the arrests of 601 people across the country, the US Attorney's Office said , including 165 doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. The office said 76 doctors were ill with distributing opioids and other narcotics.

Some have already taken plea deals, but the three accused in the drug trafficking operation and arrested Tuesday,

According to a release from the US Attorney's Office and the federal court complaints, FBI agents used a confidential informant and an undercover officer to get inside the alleged drug ring from January to May, making eight controlled purchases worth over $ 25,000.

In short papers, FBI Special Agent Stuart Sobin said Hing was the source for the pills – both pure oxycodone and diluted, pressed pills. He was born in the United States of America in the United States of America.

In Bellmawr starting in January, the informant made under the influence of Watson and the Undercover Officer, Sobin said

Eventually, Sobin wrote in short papers, informing him and Watson puts Pepe while he was on break from the hospital, and purchased the drugs from him there. Agents also watched Pepe exchange items – once hidden in a surgical mask – with Hinging in his car at the same location, Stobin said.

During one conversation, Sobin wrote, Watson bragged that he was getting 100 to 150 pills a day from Pepe to sell. "We were cranking them motherf — ers out," he told the informant, according to Sobin.

"The idea of ​​a medical professional taking a break from push pills on the street," at once, disheartening and infuriating, "Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in charge of the FBI Philadelphia Division, said in a statement.

Millions in Prescription Drug Fraud

Also, New Jersey residents and a New York doctor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud

The US Attorney's Office did not say if the arrests were related to the multi-million dollar scheme federal agents uncovered stretching across South Jersey and into other states.

In that case, medical professionals, a compounding pharmacy, recruiters and public employees worked together to use fake prescriptions for expensive medications to collect insurance money. Because they are much more expensive for insurance companies.

Dr. Agresti, who admitted to defrauding insurance companies, including New Jersey employee health benefits programs, prescribing medications unnecessary for $ 300 cash he received from the company marketing the prescriptions. His phony prescriptions cost insurers $ 8.9 million, the press release said.

Also, this article was published in: Catanzarite, who admits that he recruited members of a gym that was marketed compounded medicines. [19659002] Catanzarite convinces people to get prescriptions for compounded medication that they did not need, so both he and the state employee could get the kickback. He also paid a prescription for the prescription of drugs, the US Attorney's Office said.

"Altogether, Catanzarite caused losses of at least $ 3.5 million and made over $ 1.1 million from the scheme," the release said. [19659002] Kalaba, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus driver from Old Bridge, pleaded guilty this week in a similar scheme. He acted as a sales representative of the drug marketing company and paid his colleagues "monthly cash bribes" and $ 100 per phony prescription they could obtain. He claimed $ 2.9 million, the release said.

"This investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of the fraudulent scheme," Inspector General Barry Kluger of the MTA said in the statement. 19659013] Faking services

Two other New Jersey residents were not necessarily able to pay for the cost of retirement insurance for 800 chiropractic appointments that never happened, the release said.

The US Attorney's Office alleges that between 2016 and 2017, Marsh , 1965, 1965, 2000, A medical billing company,

She worked with Johnson, a telecommunications company employee, who recruited employees to allow the claims to be made in their names.

"At a time when many Americans worry about securing health insurance for their families, We have seen far too many instances where public and private insurance providers are not available therapy services, "U.S. Attorney Carpenito said in the statement.

[19459006RebeccaEverettmaybereachedatreverett@njadvancemediacomFollowheronTwitter @rebeccajeverett . Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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