State authorities busted five pharmacists for allegedly ripping off Medicaid, by billing for nearly $10 million in pills that were never doled out to patients, officials said today.
The five crooks, one from Manhattan and four from the Bronx, were caught “red handed,” Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said.
“These five pharmacists were caught red-handed and now they are being brought to justice,” Schneiderman said. “My office will track down those who steal from the public and continue to hold accountable those who use their positions as a vehicle to fleece New York’s taxpayers.”
Authorities called Sanjay K. Patel the “lead culprit,” and accused him of stealing $7.7 million.
The 44-year-old Edison, NJ, resident controlled three Bronx pharmacies — Citi Care Pharmacy, at 313 East 161st Street; Community Care Pharmacy, at 979 Westchester Ave.; and Family Care Pharmacy, at 1187 Grand Concourse. He also controlled Village Pharmacy, at 165 W. 127th St., in Manhattan.
He copped a plea bargain that will land him in prison for one year to three years, officials said, for stealing from Medicaid from 2003 to 2008.
Officials said the other crooked pharmacists are:
–Divy Dixit, 43, of Edison, is part-owner and supervising pharmacist of Akshar Pharmacy, at 2200 Grand Concourse in the Bronx. He pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny and a class C felony. He agreed to a sentence to five years probation, 300 hours of community service and full restitution of $1 million.
–Sanjay R. Patel, 47, of Edison, was part-owner and the supervising pharmacist of Nayosha Pharmacy, at 755-B E. 149th St. in the Bronx. He pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny and agreed to six months home confinement and five years probation. He’ll also pay full restitution of $1.2 million.
–Alpesh Patel, 43, of Elmwood, NJ, was part-owner and supervising pharmacist of Yogi Pharmacy, at 1945-A University Ave. in the Bronx. He pleaded guilty to petit larceny and agreed to 300 hours of community service and full restitution of $252,401.62.
–Manhattan resident Bharat Patel, 46, was the supervising pharmacist of Family Care Pharmacy at 1187 Grand Concourse in the Bronx. He pleaded guilty to petit larceny and was sentenced to 300 hours of community service and restitution of $158,385.38.