Pharmacist Impersonator Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Change His Name

ORLANDO—Chief U.S. District Judge Anne Conway sentenced Gregory Klonowski (49, Ruskin) today to three-and-a-half years in federal prison for mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. Klonowski was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, following his prison sentence. During the term of supervised release, Klonowski was ordered to advise the state of Illinois that he fraudulently changed his name, and to conform to his true identity of Gregory Klonowski. The court further ordered Klonowski to forfeit his residence in Ruskin, Florida, which was traceable to proceeds of the offenses. Klonowski pleaded guilty on July 24, 2012 (case number: 6:12-cr-40-ORL22DAB).

According to the plea agreement, in September 2000, Klonowski fraudulently obtained a pharmacist license from the Florida Department of Health by using the name, date of birth, Social Security number, and education of another individual (hereinafter referred to as A.R.S.) who was a licensed pharmacist. Between September 2000 and July 2009, Klonowski worked as a pharmacist in Central Florida. During that time, he submitted periodic renewals of the pharmacist license belonging to A.R.S. and received paychecks from pharmacies through the mail. Klonowski also admitted that, in 2004, he changed his legal name by fraud.

Klonowski used the proceeds of his fraudulent work as a pharmacist to purchase the property located in Ruskin.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Florida Department of Health’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haas.