Prescription Strike Force

Born of the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force, the Prescription Strike Force is an expansion of the Health Care Fraud Unit’s efforts to swiftly and effectively prosecute white collar offenses involving prescription drugs.  Over an approximately four-year period, ARPO charged more than 120 defendants collectively responsible for issuing prescriptions for over 115 million controlled substance pills. Building on this success, the Prescription Strike Force broadens ARPO’s footprint – both in subject-matter and geography – and focuses on Medicare Part-D fraud and other schemes involving false or fraudulent representations related to prescription medications, in addition to the illegal prescribing, distribution, and diversion of pharmaceutical-grade controlled substances. From its hubs in Nashville, Tennessee and Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, the Prescription Strike Force focuses on prescription drug crimes nationally.

Involvement

The Prescription Strike Force regularly participates in national and regional fraud enforcement actions, including the 2022 Opioid Enforcement Action, the September 2019 Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Takedown, and the April 2019 Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Takedown.

Recent Cases

Recent prescription drug prosecutions include:

• United States v. Getachew (S.D. Ohio)
  • Indictment
  • Press Release
• United States v. McCallum (W.D. Tenn.)
  • Indictment
  • Press Release
• United States v. Holley (M.D. Tenn.)
  • Indictment
• United States v. Murphy, et al. (N.D. Ala.)
  • Superseding Indictment
  • Press Release
• United States v. Sadrinia (E.D. Ky.)
  • Indictment
  • Press Release