A woman who ran a pharmacy in Morrisville, New York, was convicted of a felony in federal court in September 2021. She pleaded guilty to a single criminal charge of health care fraud.

Pharmacist Jennifer Caloia, 57, owned and managed Dougherty Pharmacy from 1998 to 2015. In her guilty plea, Caloia admitted to defrauding private and public health insurance programs from 2011 to 2015. She issued fraudulent claims for prescription medications that the pharmacy did not dispense.

Caloia further admitted that customers who submitted drug prescriptions had their health insurance providers billed for more expensive medications than those prescribed. As part of the scheme, the pharmacist altered the names of some drugs in the software she used to communicate with insurance companies and to print labels. She then submitted fraudulent claims while giving customers the correct labels and instructions.

Caloia will serve a 24-month term of probation, perform 80 hours of community service, pay a $10,000 fine and a special assessment of $100. The judge also ordered her to pay more than $110,400 in restitution to all the insurers affected by the prescription drug fraud scheme. She no longer owns or runs Dougherty Pharmacy.

Prescription drug fraud and other types of health care fraud are considered serious offenses in New York. Both the U.S. Attorney’s office and the New York Attorney General’s office are in the aggressive pursuit of doctors and pharmacists who engage in any type of fraud.

If you have been arrested for prescription drug fraud, you need a skilled criminal defense attorney in your corner. Brill Legal Group has experience fighting such charges and helping clients escape the worst consequences of a conviction.

Having a felony on your record can destroy your career and reputation. We explore every possible defense to avoid time behind bars and get the best outcome. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.