adminEdward Sutor Jr., 36, of Linwood, New Jersey, a former Ventnor City firefighter, pleaded guilty on April 12, 2019, to conspiring to commit health care fraud. Before his court appearance, Sutor resigned from his position with the Ventnor Fire Department.
Scheme Overview:
- Recruitment and Execution: Sutor co-owned a company that marketed prescription compounded medications. Between May 2015 and February 2016, he and his co-conspirators recruited public employees—including teachers, firefighters, police officers, and state troopers—to obtain expensive, medically unnecessary compounded medications without proper medical evaluations.
- Financial Impact: The fraudulent activities led to the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program paying over $2 million for these unnecessary prescriptions. Sutor personally received approximately $335,552 in proceeds from the scheme.
Legal Proceedings:
- Sentencing: Sutor faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing was scheduled for July 17, 2019.
This case is part of a broader investigation into prescription drug fraud schemes involving public employees in New Jersey, highlighting the extensive nature of the fraud and the involvement of various public servants.
Please note that legal proceedings are ongoing, and details may evolve as new information emerges.
