NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Lawyer for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Duane A. Evans declared that JOSEPH CAMPO (“CAMPO”) was sentenced on April 14, 2022 to 28 months of imprisonment, and a required exclusive assessment rate of $100 immediately after pleading responsible in federal courtroom relating to his part in a well being treatment fraud conspiracy.
CAMPO, age 79, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on February 25, 2021 just before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to Depend A single of a invoice of facts charging him with conspiracy to commit overall health care fraud and money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
In accordance to the bill of information, in or around March 2014, continuing via in or about Oct 2016, CAMPO and his co-defendants conspired to knowingly and willfully execute a scheme and artifice to defraud TRICARE, a federal well being care gain program affecting commerce, and other wellness treatment gain programs.
Prime Pharmacy contracted with different entities, including Pharmacy Advantage Administrators (“PBMs”), obligating Primary Pharmacy to gather copayments from beneficiaries in purchase to be reimbursed by different wellness care gain courses, which include TRICARE. CAMPO worked with co-defendants to market the compounded drugs developed by Prime Pharmacy. CAMPO and his co-conspirators labored with entrepreneurs exterior of the state to come across beneficiaries that ended up inclined to obtain medically unneeded compounds and health professionals prepared to prescribe compounds without the need of medical requirement.
Beginning in or about March 2014, and continuing via in or all around April 2016, Primary Pharmacy dispensed prescriptions for High-Yield Compounded Medicines to beneficiaries of TRICARE and other health care advantage packages that ended up not medically required, induced by kickback payments, or where copayments ended up either waived or credited by Key Pharmacy, and appropriately, submitted or brought about to be submitted fake and fraudulent promises for reimbursement to TRICARE, other wellness care profit programs, and PBMs.
CAMPO was also purchased to repay TRICARE $3 million in restitution.
“Individuals concerned in this plan illegally billed TRICARE out of near to $15 million and I am pleased that the U.S. Attorney’s Place of work is necessitating justice,” said Exclusive Agent in Demand Cynthia Bruce, Place of work of Inspector Normal, Defense Criminal Investigative Company, Southeast Discipline Workplace. “There are no victimless crimes and DCIS agents will proceed to go after unscrupulous greedy people who steal from our armed forces well being treatment method and all taxpayers.”
“Those entrusted with furnishing health and fitness care providers to veterans and their household customers will be held accountable should they violate that belief,” explained Exclusive Agent in Charge Jeffrey Breen of the Division of Veterans Affairs Business of Inspector General’s South Central Industry Business office. “The VA OIG is grateful to the United States Attorney’s Business and our regulation enforcement partners for their efforts to realize justice in this case.”
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the function of the Business office of Inspector General, Protection Felony Investigative Provider, the Section of Homeland Safety, the Division of Veterans Affairs – Place of work of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Service – Workplace of Inspector Normal.
The prosecution of the situation is staying dealt with by Assistant United States Legal professional Kathryn McHugh.