Date: 04-22-2021

Case Style:

Case Number: 18-CR-509

Judge: Eric N. Vitaliano

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Kings County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office

Defendant's Attorney:

Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory

Description: Brooklyn, New York health care fraud charge criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant, Aleah Mohammed, age 36, who was charged with mail fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to commit health care fraud stemming from multiple schemes to defraud health care programs, including obtaining more than $6.5 million from Medicare Part D Plans and Medicaid drug plans.

Mark. J. Lesko, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said:

“With today’s guilty plea, Mohammed is held accountable for stealing millions of dollars from the taxpayer-funded Medicare and Medicaid programs to line her own pockets,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lesko. “This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to safeguarding these vital health care programs and recovering ill-gotten proceeds from corrupt healthcare operators.”

“In attempting to finance a lavish lifestyle, Mohammed stole millions of dollars intended to provide medical and health services to the elder population, individuals with disabilities, and other HHS beneficiaries,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Lampert. “HHS-OIG, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, is boldly committed to investigating illegal acts that target Federal health care programs and bringing the fraudsters to justice.”

Mohammed was an owner and operator of Superdrugs Inc., Superdrugs I Inc., Superdrugs II Inc., S&A Superdrugs II Inc. and Village Stardrugs Inc. From approximately May 2015 to January 2018 and December 2018 to March 2020, Mohammed submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid, for reimbursement for prescription drugs that were not dispensed, prescribed as claimed, or medically necessary, or that were purportedly dispensed during a time when Village Stardrugs was no longer registered with the State of New York. The fraudulent claims included claims for prescription drugs for the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Mohammed used the proceeds of the scheme, among other things, to purchase luxury items such a Porsche and jewelry.

The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case, which was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force under the supervision by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Trial Attorney Andrew Estes of the Fraud Section is in charge of the prosecution.

Title 18 United States Code section 982(a)(7) and 982(b)(1); Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p) HEALTH CARE FRAUD
(1)
Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 2 and 3551 et seq. MAIL FRAUD
(1s)
Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1347, 2 and 3551 et seq. HEALTH CARE FRAUD
(2s)
Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1957(a), 1957(b), 1957(d)(1), 2 and 3551 et seq. MONEY LAUNDERING - UNLAWFUL MONETARY TRANSACTIONS
(3s-4s)

Outcome: ORDER granting 72 Motion for Hearing as to Aleah Mohammed. The parties have requested that the Court hear the guilty plea of Aleah Mohammed via videoconference and she has consented to plead guilty remotely 72 . Pursuant to § 15002(b)(2) of the CARES Act, and the finding by Chief Judge Brodie in AO-2021-5 that felony pleas under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure cannot be conducted in person without seriously jeopardizing public health and safety due the current national health crisis, I find a remote plea hearing in this case to be warranted. Therefore, the hearing is scheduled, by videoconference, for April 21, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. The parties are directed to refer to the docket for further information. Ordered by Judge Eric N. Vitaliano on 4/20/2021. (Gary, Jordan) (Entered: 04/21/2021)

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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