Tag: Opioid crisis

Virginia Pharmacy Owner Sentenced for Prescription Medication Fraud

~ Ann Corcoran ~ 1 Comment

But, it sure strikes me that there must be more to this story than we are being told!

My first question is how does a 29-year-old, Latif Mohamed Chowdhury, aka Gulam Latif Chaudhury, who is not a Pharmacist, come to own two pharmacies and set up this elaborate scheme to get his hands on dangerous drugs and bilk insurance companies and Medicare and Medicaid out of hundreds of thousands of dollars?  A 29-year-old!  Clearly there is something more.

Indeed I wonder how he managed such a light sentence—4 years—when he could have gotten twenty as noted here in an earlier article about his arrest.

Did he cut some deal with the feds to help them find bigger fish involved in the scheme?

This is the press statement from the US Justice Department on Chowdury’s sentencing. Thanks as always to readers who find important stories like this one that doubtless few will ever hear about otherwise.

Former Pharmacy Owner Sentenced for Prescription Medication Fraud

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former pharmacy owner was sentenced today [September 27th—ed] to four years in prison for fraudulently filling and dispensing thousands of prescription medications, including opioids, outside the usual course of professional practice.

“Chowdhury blithely violated his position of trust,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Chowdhury’s warped business philosophy led him to illegally distribute a significant number of prescription medications, including dangerous, addictive opioids. Moreover, his reckless actions add to the financial cost of health care as he fraudulently billed at least $500,000 to health insurance programs for prescriptions that were never filled.”

According to court documents, Latif Mohamed Chowdhury, aka Gulam Latif Chaudhury, 29, operated and controlled two now-defunct pharmacies known as Alexandria Care Pharmacy LLC (ACP-1) and Alexandria Care Pharmacy Store #2 LLC (ACP-2). Chowdhury has never been a licensed pharmacist and has no medical qualifications. Nonetheless, between August 2015 and February 2016, Chowdhury fraudulently operated ACP-1 and ACP-2 by personally filling and dispensing thousands of dosage units of medications, including opioids, without a licensed pharmacist on-site. Chowdhury used the identities of licensed pharmacists, without their permission, to carry out his scheme.

“Chowdhury used his trusted position to enrich himself at the expense of others,” said Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office. “Today’s sentencing makes it clear that the illegal distribution of opioids will not be tolerated. The FBI will work closely with our partners to continue to investigate allegations of healthcare fraud.”

Chowdhury admitted to fraudulently billing health insurance benefit programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, for refills of prescription medications that were not delivered to customers even though his pharmacies received payment for these prescriptions. Chowdhury also submitted fraudulent health insurance claims in the names of pharmacy customers for medications that were not authorized by any physician, and were not dispensed to any of the customers, in order to enrich himself through illicit profits generated by ACP-1 and ACP-2.

More here.

Of course no mention is made of his immigration status.

President Was Right: “Devil’s Highway” from Massachusetts to NH Brought Drugs to Granite State

~ Ann Corcoran ~ 3 Comments

This week the feds busted 38 individuals they say are responsible for addiction and death in New Hampshire.

Trump in New Hampshire

The operation dubbed “Devil’s Highway” once again brought attention to Trump’s words about how Lawrence, Mass. is a hub for the distribution of dangerous opioids and other drugs throughout New England.

And, it sure looks like ‘new Americans’ are responsible….

MSN News:

President Trump’s Lawrence comments back in spotlight after massive drug bust

“For anyone who said Lawrence is not a hub for distribution, how you looking now?” said N.H. state Rep. Fred Doucette, who was a state co-chair for Trump’s 2016 campaign.

“This definitely solidifies some statements that people took offense to,” Doucette added.

“Incidents like this are proof positive of the fact that Lawrence is a hub.”

The 10-week enforcement operation in the Merrimack Valley targeted drug distribution in Lawrence, and trafficking between Lawrence and destinations in New Hampshire.

These U.S. attorney prosecutions should resonate with New Hampshire voters, said Republican activist Fran Wendelboe.

For details on the bust see Monday’s US Justice Department press release:

Merrimack Valley Operation Results in Arrest of 38 Individuals

See the names of those arrested (no mention of their immigration status).

During the operation, the following defendants were arrested on federal charges:

  1. Jason Medlen, 32, of Methuen, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
  2. Louis Delvecchio, 51, of Methuen, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
  3. Santos Obispo Guerrera Lara, 35, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  4. Douglas “Sunny” Grasso, 34, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
  5. Brian Brae, 35, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
  6. Enel Alfredo Mendez-Aquino, 29, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of fentanyl and cocaine;
  7. Jorge Alexander Andujar Romero, 29, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  8. Edward Jesis Mar Carmona Ortiz, 42, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  9. Steven de Jesus de Leon Trinidad, 22, of Lawrence, charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute a heroine/fentanyl mix;
  10. Luis Felix Franco Herrera, 21, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  11. Jose Rodriquez-Walker, 32, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  12. Johanny Mejia-Nunez, 43, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;
  13. Ronyel Pena, 18, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  14. Joe Martinez, 24, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  15. Ysrael Nunez, 37, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; and aiding and abetting;
  16. William Cabrera, 30, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin; and possession with intent to distribute heroin and oxycodone;
  17. Oscar Guadalupe Martinez, 37, of North Andover, charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of heroin;
  18. Stiven Torres Martinez, 21, of North Andover, charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of heroin;
  19. Jason Jimenez, 24, of Bronx, New York, charged with possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl;
  20. Milton Elias Lara, 42, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
  21. Alexsander Padro, 28, of Methuen, charged with distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
  22. John Mena, 24, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 10 grams or more of acryl fentanyl, a controlled substance analogue;
  23. Yunior Darismir Prandys Torres, 22, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a controlled substance, to wit, fentanyl;
  24. Juan Perez Diaz, 22, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a controlled substance, to wit, fentanyl;
  25. Jose Ventura, 37, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of fentanyl;
  26. Leisy Baez-Zapata, 21, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; and aiding and abetting;
  27. Erick Alberto Paulino Amador, 28, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl;
  28. Bernardito Carvajal, 28, of Haverhill, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  29. Alfredo Rivera, 31, of Haverhill, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  30. Julio Esthil-Cifre, 30, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  31. Edgar Castro, 45, of Revere, charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine;
  32. Julio Ortiz-Chaparro, 47, of Boston, charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine;
  33. Crishanty Aybar Arias, 22, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  34. Cesar Lara Castillo, 36, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance; false representation of social security number, and aggravated identity theft;
  35. Santiago Rubel Guerrero Tejeda, 22, of Bani, Dominican Republic, charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl;
  36. Jesus Maria Aybar Franco, 34, of Lawrence, charged with distribution and  possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
  37. Marino Amador Baez, 34, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and
  38. Willin Arias-Castillo, 35, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

Michigan: See List of Docs Illegally Pushing Opiods

~ Ann Corcoran ~ 7 Comments

There are some American-sounding names on the list, but gosh this looks like a list of names of UN delegates or something…

From the Detroit Free Press:

Michigan’s opioid pushers: Is your doctor on this list?

 

Michigan locks up more doctors and pharmacists for peddling pain pills than any other state except New York, the Department of Justice says.

A Free Press investigation focused on this trend and found that metro Detroit doctors in particular are among the leading culprits fueling the opioid crisis, with more than 100 area physicians facing criminal charges over the last decade for running painkiller schemes.

faridfata
See what Debbie Schlussel said about Dr. Farid Fata in 2013.  http://www.debbieschlussel.com/65069/farid-fata-mideast-cancer-doc-defrauded-medicare-told-patients-w-no-cancer-they-had-it-gave-em-chemo/

Dr. Obioma Agomuoh. Prison sentence: 5 years

Dr. Asm Akter Ahmed, 58, of Hamtramck. Prison sentence: Time served

Dr. Muhammad Ahmed, 65, of Ypsilanti. Prison sentence: 4 years

Dr. Abbey Akinwumi, 55, of Superior Township. Prison sentence: 7 years and 3 months.

Dr. Yasser Awaad, a Bloomfield Hills neurologist, is accused in civil suit of diagnosing hundreds of children with epilepsy who didn’t have. He fled the country in 2017.

Dr. Hussein “Sam” Awada, 46, of Royal Oak. Prison sentence: 7 years

Dr. Gavin Awerbuch of West Bloomfield. Prison sentence: 32 months

Dr. Mohamed Batayneh, 68, of Livonia. Prison sentence: 8 years and 1 month

The case of Lebanese born Doctor Farid Fata was front page news in Michigan for years.  He got 45 years, but his victims wanted even more!

Dr. Farid Fata, 50, of Oakland Township. Prison sentence: 45 years

Have a look at the whole list that wraps with this one:

Dr. Mohammed Zahoor, 51, of Novi. Charged in pending health care fraud case involving opioids.

I guess these are some of the ‘new American’ entrepreneurs the Open Borders propagandists are always telling us about.

Charleston, WV: Syrian Doctor Pleads Guilty in Illegal Distribution of Pain Meds Investigation

~ Ann Corcoran ~ 3 Comments
“A drug dealer in a lab coat is still just a drug dealer!”

(United States Attorney Mike Stuart)

Ho hum! you might be saying, another foreign doctor destroying Americans with drugs! What else is new?

But this case, reported by the US Justice Department on Saturday, caught my attention immediately.

The first thing I did was try to find out if the drug dealer is Syrian and after a little searching I found a reference to his Syrian passport.  

Why was that so interesting you ask?

Well, it’s because it was the Syrian ‘community’ in Charleston that was pushing for West Virginia (specifically Charleston) to become a Syrian refugee resettlement site back toward the end of the Obama Administration.  I even heard a rumor that Syrian doctors were making generous contributions to local Congressmen (maybe other pols too!) to gain their support for refugee resettlement.

First here is the rather unusual press release from the US Justice Department this week:

Charleston Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegal Distribution of Methadone

Nasher
Muhammed Samer Nasher-Alneam

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston doctor who practiced at Neurology & Pain Center, PLLC pled guilty to illegal distribution of controlled substances that were not for legitimate medical purposes, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Muhammed Samer Nasher-Alneam admitted to writing prescriptions in July 2014 for oxycodone and methadone pills that were not within the bounds of professional medical practice or for legitimate medical purposes. Pursuant to his guilty plea, Nasher agreed to permanently surrender both his medical license and DEA registration. He further agreed to never seek reinstatement of a license to practice as a medical doctor in any other state.

Now check out the next paragraph.  Normally these press releases are written in a boring style.  It is rare to see such enthusiasm!  Cut the head of the snake!

“Nasher is now an admitted felon and faces up to ten years – TEN YEARS- in a federal prison. A drug dealer in a lab coat is still just a drug dealer,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Nasher will never practice medicine again. Ever. Nasher will never write another prescription. Ever. And Nasher will never treat another patient. Ever. We’re cracking down hard across the board – medical professionals, doctors, pharmacists, street dealers and traffickers – in a multi-pronged aggressive approach intended to cut the head off the snake. Medical professionals should take note that if they abuse the prescribing privileges of their profession, and I stress that they are a privilege, my office will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law and I will seek the maximum sentence in every case.”

Nasher was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending his December 2, 2019 sentencing. Nasher has remained in custody since his arrest on July 27, 2018 – 393 days – as a result of the United States moving to detain him. He faces at least 5 and up to 10 years in prison, as well as a $1 million fine at sentencing. As part of his plea agreement, Nasher agreed to forfeit $149,480.75 in United States Currency and an Acura RDX Sport Utility Vehicle.

More here.

Now here is a news story from WSAZ Charleston from nearly a year ago which tells us a bit more about Nasher and his Syrian roots:

UPDATE: Doctor facing 22 charges in new indictment

The order of detention states that Nasher-Alneam’s mom and five brothers live in Turkey — a place the suspect has visited. It also states Nasher-Alneam has traveled outside of the United States (to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Malaysia) several times for various reasons.

Court documents say Nasher-Alneam delivered his U.S. passport to his attorney, “but there are some questions concerning the location and validity of his Syrian Passport that was not revealed to the probation officer during his initial interview.In addition, the defendant was not forthright and truthful to the probation officer concerning his ownership of various properties and financial assets.”

I’m guessing a legitimate fear of him skipping the country is why he has been in custody for nearly a year.

And, I’ll bet there is a lot more to this story than we are being told!

Wyoming: Kahn Brothers Found Guilty in Drug Conspiracy Case

~ Ann Corcoran ~ 2 Comments
Kahn “preyed on” addicted people for years, and the verdict confirmed that a person’s profession does not put them above the law.***

(Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Sprecher)

 
One more story about ‘new Americans’ getting rich (for awhile) by dealing in controlled substances ostensibly for pain management.  Ho hum!  So what else is new?

Dr. Kahn and Lyn
Dr. Shakeel Kahn and wife Lyn

However, this story interested me for the primary reason that it is from Wyoming (not Michigan! not California! not any state where large numbers of new Americans are selling drugs, or dirty docs are prescribing them!).
By the way, and unrelated to this story, is the fact that Wyoming is the only state in the nation that doesn’t resettle refugees.
Also, interesting is the fact that Dr. Shakeel Kahn’s wife, originally a patient, then a ‘wife’ and partner in the crime, became a witness for the prosecution after their arrest in one of their several homes.
People traveled from faraway states to Wyoming to pick up their illegal drug prescriptions.
Additionally, Kahn was implicated in the death of one patient from Arizona.
Continue reading “Wyoming: Kahn Brothers Found Guilty in Drug Conspiracy Case” →