BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A choose sentenced a Tennessee doctor and his spouse yesterday for unlawfully distributing opioids and defrauding insurers via their now-shuttered Alabama clinics.
Chief U.S. District Courtroom Choose L. Scott Coogler sentenced Mark Murphy, 66, and his spouse, Jennifer Murphy, 66, each of Lewisburg, every to twenty years in jail for conspiracy to unlawfully distribute managed substances and conspiracy to commit well being care fraud, together with numerous substantive counts associated to the identical, and conspiring to defraud the USA and receiving kickbacks.
“Dr. Murphy and his spouse preyed on numerous susceptible sufferers and stole tens of tens of millions of {dollars} from Medicare and different taxpayer-funded medical health insurance applications,” stated U.S. Legal professional Escalona. “Our workplace will proceed to prosecute drug sellers and well being care fraudsters to the total extent of the legislation.”
“The abuse of prescribed drugs, particularly opioids, is a significant issue in our communities,” stated DEA Assistant Particular Agent in Cost Towanda Thorne-James. “All too typically, this abuse results in dependancy, shattered lives, and even loss of life. For the well being and security of our residents, DEA and our legislation enforcement companions will proceed to focus on those that illegally distribute these doubtlessly harmful medication. We hope that the sentences on this case function a reminder to anybody who may illegally divert prescription drugs that they are going to be held accountable for the hurt they trigger.”
“Mark and Jennifer Murphy realized right this moment that unlawfully distributing managed substances, committing well being care fraud, and receiving kickbacks comes with hefty authorized penalties,” stated James E. Dorsey, Particular Agent in Cost, IRS Felony Investigation, Atlanta Discipline Workplace. “Their conviction right this moment serves as a lesson to others who assume nobody is paying consideration.”
In line with courtroom paperwork and proof introduced at trial, Mark Murphy and Jennifer Murphy owned and operated North Alabama Ache Providers (NAPS), which closed its Decatur and Madison workplaces in early 2017. Mark Murphy was the only real physician on the two areas, and the proof at trial confirmed that some sufferers went months or years with out seeing him throughout their month-to-month workplace visits, despite the fact that they continued to get opioid prescriptions that he had pre-signed. Over the roughly five-year interval main as much as the clinic closing its Alabama areas, the proof at sentencing confirmed, Murphy wrote prescriptions for greater than ten million opioid capsules, together with tens of millions of oxycodone 30 mg tablets. Throughout the identical five-year interval, Murphy and his spouse Jennifer, who helped run the clinics, ordered tens of tens of millions of {dollars} of pointless objects and companies that had been paid by taxpayer-funded and personal insurance coverage applications. The Murphys obtained kickbacks for these orders and prescriptions. In all, Medicare, TRICARE, and Blue Cross Blue Defend of Alabama had been billed greater than $280 million because of the fraud and kickback schemes, and paid greater than $50 million. Mark Murphy and Jennifer Murphy had been every ordered to pay greater than $50 million in restitution. Jennifer Murphy was additionally convicted of tax-related prices for underreporting clinic earnings.
Additionally yesterday, co-conspirator, Christie Rollins, 52, of Petersburg, Tennessee, was sentenced to twenty-four months in jail for her function in promoting medically pointless sturdy medical gear and costly topical lotions at NAPS. Rollins agreed to pay restitution of greater than $564,000.
Assistant Legal professional Common Kenneth A. Well mannered Jr. of the Justice Division’s Felony Division; U.S. Legal professional Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama; Particular Agent in Cost Bradford L. Byerly of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Orleans Discipline Division; Particular Agent in Cost Carlton L. Peeples of the FBI Birmingham Division; Particular Agent in Cost James E. Dorsey of IRS Felony Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Discipline Workplace; and Particular Agent in Cost Tamela E. Miles of the Division of Well being and Human Service Workplace of the Inspector Common (HHS-OIG) Atlanta Area made the announcement.
FBI, HHS-OIG, IRS-CI and DEA investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Jillian Willis and Trial Legal professional Emily Gurskis of the Felony Division’s Fraud Part and Assistant U.S. Legal professional J.B. Ward of the Northern District of Alabama prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Part leads the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Power. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Power, which operates in 10 districts, has charged greater than 90 defendants who’re collectively accountable for distributing greater than 105 million capsules. The ARPO Strike Power is a part of the Well being Care Fraud Strike Power Program, which since March 2007 has charged greater than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for greater than $19 billion. As well as, the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Providers, working together with the Workplace of the Inspector Common for the Division of Well being and Human Providers, are taking steps to carry suppliers accountable for his or her involvement in well being care fraud schemes. Extra info could be discovered at: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
