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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw, announced
that an Essex County pharmacist and the
pharmacy he operated were convicted in absentia
yesterday of health care claims fraud and
Medicaid fraud for submitting more than
$15,000 in phony prescription claims to
the Medicaid program.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Ademola T. Salami, 51, of Hillside,
a pharmacist licensed in New Jersey, and
the pharmacy he owned and operated, Bethel
Pharmacy Inc., located at 301 Osborne Terrace
in Newark, were convicted of second-degree
health care claims fraud and third-degree
Medicaid fraud. The conviction followed
a 14-day jury trial before Superior Court
Judge Michael Ravin in Essex County. Salami
did not appear for his trial, and the chair
reserved for the defendant remained empty
throughout the proceedings.
The Essex County jury found that between
Jan. 1 and April 10, 2004, Salami, through
Bethel Pharmacy, knowingly submitted claims
for 71 false prescriptions to the Medicaid
program. The prescriptions had a forged
doctor’s signature and had not been
prescribed by the doctor. At least 12 of
the prescriptions were submitted on forms
that had not even been printed at the time
the prescriptions were filled. Salami and
Bethel Pharmacy billed the Medicaid program
approximately $15,145 for the phony prescriptions.
State
Investigator Michael Rasar, Assistant Attorney
General John Krayniak and Deputy Attorney
General Deborah Cummis Sandlaufer handled
the case for the Office of the Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor - Medicaid Fraud Control
Unit. The Medicaid Program, which is funded
by the state and federal governments, provides
health care services and prescription drugs
to persons who may not otherwise be able
to afford them.
The
corporation is scheduled to appear before
Judge Ravin on Nov. 16 to be sentenced.
A bench warrant has been issued by Judge
Ravin for Salami’s arrest. The second-degree
crime carries a sentence of up to 10 years
in state prison and a criminal fine of up
to $150,000, while the third-degree crime
carries a sentence of up to three years
in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. This
matter was also referred to the New Jersey
Board of Pharmacy for any action deemed
appropriate regarding Salami’s license.
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