adminMatthew Tedesco, 42, a pharmaceutical sales representative from Linwood, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on August 17, 2017, to conspiring to commit health care fraud. This plea marked the first in a series of admissions related to a widespread prescription fraud scheme targeting New Jersey’s health benefits programs.
Scheme Overview:
- Recruitment and Execution: Tedesco, along with co-conspirators, recruited public employees—including teachers, firefighters, police officers, and state troopers—to obtain expensive, medically unnecessary compounded medications from an out-of-state pharmacy. These medications were prescribed without proper medical evaluations and reimbursed at high rates, leading to significant financial losses.
- Financial Impact: The fraudulent activities resulted in insurers, including New Jersey’s state health benefits programs, paying out millions of dollars for these unnecessary prescriptions.
Legal Proceedings:
- Co-Conspirators: Following Tedesco’s plea, other individuals involved in the scheme, including Robert Bessey of Philadelphia, also pleaded guilty to charges related to the fraud.
- Sentencing: Tedesco faced a maximum prison term of 10 years, with sentencing guidelines suggesting a term of 46 to 57 months. Sentencing was scheduled for a later date following his plea.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts by authorities to address fraudulent activities within the health care industry, particularly those exploiting public health benefits programs.
Please note that legal proceedings are ongoing, and details may evolve as new information emerges.
