Related Federal Cases
- OCC Officials Facilitate Crypto Money Laundering, Washington D.C., … · Maryland
- Gerardo Heriberto Nuñez Nuñez, Elder Fraud Scheme, Boston MA, 2026 · Washington
- Viviane Cazeau, Bank Fraud Scheme, Massachusetts, 2023 · New Hampshire
- Delcin Belarminio Soto Baez, Identity Theft Scheme, MA, 2023 · Massachusetts
- Armand J. Croteau, $1.9M IRS Fraud Scheme, FL, 2023 · Alabama
Lexington Doctor, Wife Charged in Money Laundering Scheme
A Lexington doctor and his wife have been charged in connection with an international money laundering scheme involving misbranded drugs, according to federal authorities.
Rahim Shafa, 64, a psychiatrist who owned and operated Novel Psychopharmacology, was indicted on charges of health care fraud conspiracy, international money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and other crimes. His wife, Nahid “Nina” Tormosi Shafa, 63, who served as office manager, was charged with health care fraud conspiracy and international money laundering conspiracy.
The defendants allegedly filed false and fraudulent Medicare reimbursement claims between April 2016 and January 2019, which they deposited into bank accounts they controlled. They also allegedly engaged in an international money laundering scheme to purchase naltrexone and disulfiram pellet implants and injections from Hong Kong, which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The indictment alleges that Shafa falsified shipping documents to conceal that the packages containing the drugs were shipped from Hong Kong to Massachusetts. The defendants offered to sell these misbranded drugs to patients of Novel Psychopharmacology.
The charges against the defendants carry significant prison time, including up to 20 years for money laundering and international money laundering conspiracy, and up to 10 years for health care fraud conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell, Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA, Office of Criminal Investigations, and other law enforcement officials made the announcement.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News