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Department of Justice United States Attorney David L. Huber Contact: Sandy Focken |
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July 23, 2008
INFORMATION FILED AGAINST LOUISVILLE MEN FOR HEALTH CARE FRAUD
– Pharmacist and drug company rep charged in an information with buying and selling prescription drug samples
– Both were paid for prescription drug samples
LOUISVILLE, KY - An information was filed on July 21, 2008, by the United States Attorney against Michael Carney, age 60, and Joseph Ivan Rouben, age 79, of Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County, on charges of health care fraud and prohibited drug acts, U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.
The information alleges that between 2003 and 2006, Carney, who worked as a drug company representative sold prescription drug samples at Rouben's Pharmacy. Rouben a pharmacist purchased and later sold sample drugs to the pharmacy. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Carney had been paid $177,752 and Rouben had been paid $58,090 by the owner, Brian Ullom, for their role in the purchase and later sale of the samples. The samples which were purchased were placed in the pharmacy's inventory and were later sold to consumers whose insurances were billed, including Medicare and Medicaid. The owner of the pharmacy, Brian Ullom, has previously pled guilty to the purchase of the drug samples and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2008. Another defendant, George Deusner pled guilty to charges in an Information and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 16, 2008, in Louisville, Kentucky.
In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties are 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of up to 3 years.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lettricea Jefferson-Webb, and it was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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The charge of a person by Information is an accusation only and that
person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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