Two pharmacists and a physician in Houston have been charged for their alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme spanning six years, as detailed in a 13-count indictment.
The individuals facing charges are Pharmacist Shalondria Simpson (age 45), Physician Lashondria Simpson-Camp (age 45), and Pharmacist Shayla Bryant (age 38). They are accused of conspiring to submit fraudulent claims between 2016 and 2022.
Shalondria Simpson owned and operated two pharmacies in Houston. Her twin sister, Simpson-Camp, allegedly referred prescriptions to these pharmacies in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes.
The trio is accused of submitting fraudulent claims to the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (DOL-OWCP) for high-reimbursing drugs that were often medically unnecessary and linked to kickbacks and bribes.
Simpson’s pharmacies are alleged to have submitted approximately $170 million in fraudulent claims through DOL-OWCP.
To conceal their actions, Simpson is accused of conspiring to launder the proceeds of their criminal activity through financial transactions exceeding $10,000. When she became aware of the investigation, officials say she converted these proceeds into cash and transferred them to over 10 bank accounts and a cryptocurrency wallet.
The indictment charges Simpson, Simpson-Camp, and Bryant with conspiracy to defraud the United States and engage in health care kickbacks, as well as conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Simpson faces additional charges, including conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, five counts of money laundering, and five counts of paying health care kickbacks, one of which also implicates Bryant.
If convicted, the three individuals face various maximum penalties, including up to five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and engage in health care kickbacks, up to 10 years for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and up to 20 years for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Simpson and Bryant each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of paying health care kickbacks.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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