Four Nevada residents, including a doctor, have been charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription opioids and health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. The charges are part of the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the federal government.
The national health care fraud takedown involved 601 charged defendants across 58 federal districts, including 165 doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $2 billion in false billings.
Robert D. Harvey, a surgical technician, Alejandro Incera and Leslie Kalyn, both nurse practitioners, were charged in a 29-count indictment for their roles in prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics. Dr. Horace P. Guerra, a doctor, was charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone and Hydrocodone.
As alleged, Dr. Guerra provided pre-signed prescription pads to Robert Harvey and Alejandro Incera who wrote opioid prescriptions for patients without a legitimate medical purpose. The cases have a combined loss of approximately $3.7 million.
”Health care fraud is a betrayal of vulnerable patients, and often it is theft from the taxpayer,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “In many cases, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists take advantage of people suffering from drug addiction in order to line their pockets. These are despicable crimes.
Dr. Guerra’s case is ongoing, with a jury trial set for July 30, 2018. The District of Nevada filed charges against four individuals, including Dr. Guerra, with prescription opioid-related offenses.
Key Facts
- State: Nevada
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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