Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia have announced charges against Josue Torres and Anthony Guerra. The two men are accused of orchestrating a scheme to acquire expensive HIV medications through fraudulent prescriptions using stolen identities of medical practitioners and their patients. Both were arrested on June 17, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, "As alleged, the defendants stole the identities of doctors and patients to convert valuable, life-saving medications into a source of illicit profits." He emphasized that such actions jeopardize patient safety and undermine healthcare integrity.
FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia remarked, "Josue Torres and Anthony Guerra allegedly procured and resold hundreds of illegitimate prescriptions through unauthorized access to pharmaceutical databases." He highlighted the commitment to apprehend those exploiting medical information for black-market gains.
According to the complaint, from August 2021 onward, Torres and Guerra allegedly issued fraudulent prescriptions for high-cost medications by accessing e-prescribing platforms with stolen practitioner identities. These medications were then obtained under false pretenses for individuals who did not need them.
The scheme involved approximately 693 fraudulent prescriptions from about 18 practitioners, totaling around $2.6 million in value. These medications were reportedly sold on the black market due to their significant resale value.
Torres and Guerra face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, with potential sentences up to 20 years in prison, as well as aggravated identity theft carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of two years.
This case is part of a broader law enforcement action targeting health care fraud schemes nationwide involving over $14 billion in false billings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Ross is leading the prosecution from the Office's General Crimes Unit.
The charges remain allegations until proven otherwise in court.
