Former Greenwich Pharmacist Sentenced to 14 Months in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOBY GEORGE, 35, of Cliffwood, New Jersey, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven to 14 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. On July 10, 2009, GEORGE pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between June 2006 and September 2008, GEORGE was a pharmacist, licensed in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, and a part owner of Byram Pharmacy, located at 13 North Water Street in Greenwich, Connecticut. During this time period, GEORGE knowingly and willfully submitted, or caused to be submitted, fraudulent claims for payment to the Medicaid and Medicare programs. Specifically, GEORGE submitted various claims to Medicaid for certain prescription drugs that were not, in fact, dispensed. GEORGE also submitted various claims to Medicaid for certain brand name drugs when, in fact, he had dispensed less expensive generic drugs.

GEORGE has previously entered into a civil settlement agreement with the Government in which he has paid $344,805 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act. The Government has alleged in the settlement agreement that GEORGE improperly submitted claims to Medicare for certain prescription narcotics that he dispensed to an individual while accepting cash payments from the same individual for additional quantities of those drugs.

GEORGE has agreed to surrender all of his pharmacist licenses.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Food and Drug Administration, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William M. Brown, Jr., and Richard M. Molot, along with Auditor Kevin A. Saunders.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling the Health Care Fraud Working Group at (203) 785-9270 or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.