A Southern California pharmacy owner who orchestrated a Medicare fraud scheme involving over $1.5 million in false claims was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
Tamar Tatarian, 39, of Pasadena, California, was convicted of one count of health care fraud and two counts of wire fraud following a four-day jury trial on December 14, 2018.
According to the evidence presented at trial and sentencing, from approximately October 2015 through June 2018, Tatarian engaged in a scheme involving the submission of fraudulent claims to Medicare Part D plan sponsors for prescription drugs that Akhtamar Pharmacy never ordered from wholesalers, and thus never dispensed to Medicare beneficiaries.
Tatarian attempted to conceal the fraud through the creation of fake invoices, reflecting wholesale drug purchases by Akhtamar Pharmacy which had, in fact, never taken place, the evidence showed.
As a result of this scheme, Tatarian, through Akhtamar Pharmacy, submitted claims to Medicare for more than $1.5 million in prescription drugs that she never purchased or dispensed to patients, the evidence showed.
Tamar Tatarian, an owner of Akhtamar Pharmacy in the Pasadena, California area, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John F. Walter of the Central District of California, who also ordered Tatarian to pay $1,537,710.73 in restitution to Medicare.
This case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG. Trial Attorney Alexis Gregorian and Assistant Chief A. Brendan Stewart of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion since its inception in March 2007.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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