Kakra Gyambibi, Compound Prescription Fraud Scheme, Connecticut 2019

Kakra Gyambibi, a 38-year-old doctor from Darnestown, Maryland, formerly of Connecticut, was sentenced to three months of imprisonment for her role in a compound prescription fraud scheme.

On July 15, 2019, Kakra Gyambibi reported to prison as a result of her sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release. Kakra Gyambibi was released on a $50,000 bond prior to her sentencing.

Kakra Gyambibi, a physician who worked as a hospitalist at Stamford Hospital, was involved in a scheme to defraud the State of Connecticut Pharmacy Benefit Plan, TRICARE, and other healthcare programs by submitting prescriptions for compound pharmacy medications prepared and dispensed by Advantage Pharmacy. The prescriptions contained Kakra Gyambibi's signature, but she did not treat, examine, or even meet with the patients for whom the prescriptions were written.

The scheme resulted in more than $1.6 million in losses to the victim healthcare programs. Kakra Gyambibi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud on January 18, 2019.

Advantage Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, prepared and dispensed compound prescription drugs specifically tailored for individual patients. One tube of a compound drug cream prepared and dispensed by Advantage Pharmacy typically cost healthcare benefit programs thousands of dollars, with some individual tubes costing more than $11,000 for a one-month supply.

The government is seeking $1,650,332.35 in restitution. Judge Meyer will set a hearing to determine restitution at a later date. This investigation has been conducted by the New Haven Division of the FBI.

Kakra Gyambibi's husband, Kwasi Gyambibi, acted as a sales representative for Advantage Pharmacy and was found guilty of two counts of healthcare fraud related to fraudulent prescriptions for compound drugs. He awaits sentencing.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/doctor-involved-compound-prescription-fraud-scheme-sentenced-prison