Rebecca Canfield, Oxycodone Distribution and Health Care Fraud, Iowa 2020

Rebecca Canfield Sentenced to Prison for Oxycodone Distribution and Health Care Fraud

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - In a case that highlights the ongoing battle against prescription drug abuse, Rebecca Canfield, a 46-year-old resident of Cass County, Iowa, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and commit health care fraud.

According to a recent investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and other law enforcement agencies, Canfield and her co-defendant Mary Mayo obtained prescriptions for oxycodone from medical professionals through false representations of injury or illness and related pain management. Canfield then used her Medicare/Medicaid benefits to obtain oxycodone from local pharmacies, which she would provide to Mayo for resale.

During the course of the investigation, it was also determined that Canfield received Social Security benefits to which she was not entitled.

Canfield's sentence includes 30 months in prison, followed by 48 months of supervised release. As part of her sentence, she was also ordered to pay restitution to Medicare/Medicaid and the Social Security Administration.

This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of prescription drug abuse and the importance of rooting out those who exploit our healthcare system for personal gain.

The case against Canfield was investigated by the DEA, the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General, the Cass County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuted the case.

Other individuals previously sentenced in connection with this case include Mary Mayo, Tony Martin May, Jessica Lynn Gross, and Alex Lee Pleis.

Canfield's case serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit our healthcare system for personal gain.

In total, the defendants in this case were sentenced to the following prison terms and supervised release:

• Mary Mayo: 24 months imprisonment followed by 48 months of supervised release
• Tony Martin May: 12 months of imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised release
• Jessica Lynn Gross: time served and 60 months of supervised release
• Alex Lee Pleis: time served and 36 months of supervised release
• Rebecca Canfield: 30 months in prison, followed by 48 months of supervised release

The defendants in this case were also ordered to pay restitution to Medicare/Medicaid and the Social Security Administration.

Canfield's sentencing was a major victory for law enforcement and a reminder of the importance of holding accountable those who seek to exploit our healthcare system for personal gain.

Defendant Information:

• Defendant Name: Rebecca Canfield
• Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and health care fraud
• City and State: Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Exact Date: January 3, 2020 (sentencing date)
• Sentence or Outcome: 30 months in prison, followed by 48 months of supervised release
• Dollar Amounts: None

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/cass-county-resident-sentenced-prison-oxycodone-and-health-care-fraud-offenses