A South Hills pharmacist has been brought to justice for his role in a massive prescription drug fraud scheme that put profits over people.
Timothy W. Forester, 46, of Venetia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to one year in prison, two years of supervised release, a fine of $10,000, and ordered to pay $649,524 in restitution on his conviction of obtaining controlled substances by fraud, misbranding of drugs, and health care fraud conspiracy.
According to court documents, Forester, who owned and operated four pharmacies in the Pittsburgh region, would order scheduled narcotics, mostly oxycodone and hydrocodone, from suppliers. However, instead of dispensing them to patients, Forester would intercept those deliveries, falsify pharmacy inventories, and transport the drugs to his residence, where he would consume them.
In addition to his personal abuse of prescription drugs, Forester would also engage in a scheme to defraud insurance companies and customers. He would place labels for brand-named drugs on bottles of generic drugs and bill them as if they were the higher-priced brand drugs. Furthermore, he would change the computer billing codes for drugs to falsely represent to payors that the drugs were brand, resulting in a much higher reimbursement.
The investigation leading to the filing of charges in this case was conducted by the Western Pennsylvania Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, which combines personnel and resources from various agencies to combat the growing prescription opioid epidemic.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. The sentencing was imposed by Senior United States District Judge David Steward Cercone on September 17, 2021. Forester had previously pled guilty to the charges on the same date.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of prescription drug abuse and the importance of holding accountable those who engage in such illicit activities. As our community continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic, it is crucial that we prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens, particularly those most vulnerable to the ravages of addiction.
Forester’s sentence is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors who work tirelessly to dismantle these types of schemes and bring perpetrators to justice.
**Mandatory Facts:**
Defendant: Timothy W. Forester
Criminal Charges: Obtaining controlled substances by fraud, misbranding of drugs, and health care fraud conspiracy
City and State: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date: September 17, 2021
Sentence: One year in prison, two years of supervised release, a fine of $10,000, and ordered to pay $649,524 in restitution
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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