TRENTON - Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced that a Middlesex County woman pleaded guilty today to second degree health care claims fraud for submitting fraudulent prescriptions to pharmacies in Union and Middlesex Counties.
Annette Brown, 47, of South Plainfield, pleaded guilty to an accusation charging her with second-degree health care claims fraud before Superior Court Judge John S. Triarsi in Union County.
Judge Triarsi scheduled sentencing for Aug. 28. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Brown be sentenced to a five-year term of special probation under the supervision of the Union County Drug Court Program.
In pleading guilty, Brown admitted that between July 17, 2007 and Nov. 11, 2011, she submitted fraudulent prescriptions to several pharmacies, knowing that she was not entitled to receive the prescription benefits. An investigation determined that, as a result of the fraud, prescriptions were filled and given to Brown. The pharmacies received reimbursement from insurance companies totaling $17,471 for these phony prescriptions.
The investigation further determined that the fraudulent prescriptions used the names of innocent persons who did not know that Brown had assumed their identities to fraudulently obtain prescription medications in their names.
Deputy Attorney General James A. Carey, Jr. and Detective Janessa Jones were assigned to the matter. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi thanked Lauren Russo of Medco Health Solutions for their assistance in the investigation.
Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi noted that some important cases have started with anonymous tips. People who are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud can report it anonymously by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD, or visiting the Web site at www.NJInsurancefraud.org. State regulations permit a reward to be paid to an eligible person who provides information that leads to an arrest, prosecution and conviction for insurance fraud.
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