Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan | Department of Justice
A pharmacist and business owner from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in a scheme that resulted in more than $3 million in losses to Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., along with Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Detroit Field Division.
Mohammad Hamdan, 44, admitted during his plea hearing that he used two pharmacies under his control to submit false claims for prescriptions. According to prosecutors, these claims were for drugs that were either medically unnecessary or not actually dispensed. In many cases, the pharmacies did not have enough inventory to provide the prescribed medications but still billed insurers as if they had done so.
Over a five-year period, Hamdan submitted or directed others to submit fraudulent claims totaling over $3.2 million.
Sentencing will be scheduled after a presentence report is completed by United States District Judge Judith Levy. Hamdan could face up to 10 years in prison without parole, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by HHS-OIG and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood is prosecuting the case.
"
