June 16, 2023

Man Convicted of $54M Bribery and Kickback Scheme Involving Fraudulent Prescriptions

A federal jury convicted a Florida man for his role in a $54 million bribery and kickback scheme involving TRICARE, a federal program that provides health insurance benefits to active duty and retired service members and their families. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, David Byron Copeland, 55, of Tallahassee, was a part-owner and senior sales manager at Florida Pharmacy Solutions (FPS), a Florida-based pharmacy that specialized in compounded prescription drugs. Copeland, along with his accomplices, engaged in a practice known as "test billing" to develop the most expensive combination of compounded drugs to maximize reimbursement from TRI CARE.

June 15, 2023

Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 18 Months Imprisonment for Health Care Fraud Scheme

CHRISTOPHER BLACKSTONE has been sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment to be followed by a 2-year term of supervised release after pleading guilty in federal court relating to his role in a health care fraud conspiracy. BLACKSTONE, age 46, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on February 24, 2021 before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to Count One of a bill of information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1347 and 1349.

June 15, 2023

Air National Guardsman Indicted for Unlawful Disclosure of Classified National Defense Information

A member of the United States Air National Guard (USANG) stationed in Massachusetts has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly retaining and transmitting classified National Defense Information on a social media platform beginning in or around 2022 and continuing until his arrest in April 2023.

June 15, 2023

Two Jacksonville Compounding Pharmacies and Their Owner Agree to Pay at Least $7 .4 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

The Justice Department announced today that Smart Pharmacy, Inc., SP2, LLC, and owner Gregory Balotin have agreed to pay at least $7.4 million to resolve lawsuits filed in Jacksonville, Florida, alleging they violated the False Claims Act by adding the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole to topical compounded pain creams to boost reimbursement and by routinely waiving patient copayment obligations. The settlement amount is based on the defendants' ability to pay.

June 14, 2023

Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 26 Months Imprisonment for Health Care Fraud Scheme

DONALD PETER AUZINE was sentenced on June 13, 2023 to 26 months of imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release after pleading guilty in federal court relating to his role in a health care fraud conspiracy. AUZINE, age 51, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on September 23, 2021 before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to Count One of an indictment that charged him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1347 and 1349.

June 13, 2023

Haitian-Chilean Citizen Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection with Plot to Kill Haitian President

Rodolphe Jaar, 49, was sentenced to life in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez for his participation in the events leading to the July 7, 2021, assassination of President Jovenel Mo'i'se of Haiti, after pleading guilty on March 24. From at least February to July 2021, South Florida served as a central location for planning and financing the plot to oust President Morse from power and replace him with someone who would serve the coconspirators' political goals and financial interests. Jaar helped secure weapons and provided other support.

June 8, 2023

Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding California Car Dealership

Michael Uziewe, 63, of Grayson, Georgia, pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud related to an online scheme that defrauded a business owner in California and a second business owner in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Phillip A.Talbert announced.

June 6, 2023

CEO of Dozens of Companies and Entities in Florida and New Jersey Admits Role in Massive Scheme to Traffic in Fraudulent and Counterfeit Cisco Networking Equipment

A Florida resident and dual citizen of the United States and Turkey pleaded guilty to running and extensive operation over many years to traffic in Fraudulent and counterfeit Cisco networking equipment, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna, District of New Jersey, and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. announced today.

June 2, 2023

Project Manager Sentenced for False Statements Regarding Lead Contamination at City Park, Firm Pays $2 Million Restitution

A project manager has been sentenced in federal court for misleading federal authorities about lead contamination in a Granby, Mo., city park after he was hired to conduct remediation at the site. Lynn Eich, 65, of Dewitt, Iowa, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Thursday, June 1, to five years of probation and ordered to pay a $40,000 fine.

June 1, 2023

Former Engineer Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Semiconductor Trade Secret

A Lexington, Mass. man was sentenced today in Boston federal court for possessing the stolen prototype design of a microchip, known as the HMC1022A, which was owned and developed by his former employer, Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI}, a semiconductor company headquartered in Wilmington, Mass. This chip is used in both aerospace and defense applications.