Kristie Masucci, of the Cedar Run section of Stafford Township, a former pharmaceutical representative from Ocean County was sentenced in August 20, 2019, to 24 months in prison, three years probation and faces restitution of more than $1.8 million.

Matthew Tedesco, of Northfield, a pharmaceutical sales representative, was the first to plead guilty to health care fraud charges in this case in August 2017. Tedesco also recruited patients to request expensive, unneeded drugs, without having seen a doctor, according to his plea.

Robert Bessey, of Philadelphia, a gym floor installer, agreed to forfeit $485,540 and pay restitution of at least $2.7 million.

Steve Urbanski, a pharmacological broker, served as a recruiter in the conspiracy. As part of the plea agreement, Urbanski will forfeit more than $113,668 and pay restitution of $752,291.

Michael Pepper, of Northfield, a retired Atlantic City firefighter, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health-benefits fraud. As part of the plea agreement, Pepper will forfeit $113,627 and pay restitution of $719,481.

Thomas Hodnett, of Voorhees, a pharmaceutical sales representative, served as recruiter in the conspiracy. Hodnett agreed to forfeit more than $269,966 and pay restitution of $1.5 million.

John Gaffney, of Linwood, a Margate doctor, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health-benefits fraud. According to court documents, Gaffney signed more than 200 unnecessary prescriptions for teachers, police and firefighters covered under the NJ Direct insurance plan.

Judd Holt, of Marlton, a Burlington County pharmaceutical representative, pleaded guilty to separate charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Holt defrauded health-insurance plans of more than $769,000 and must forfeit more than $95,000.

George Gavras, of Moorestown, a Burlington County pharmaceutical representative, pleaded guilty to separate charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Gavras admitted to defrauding plans of more than $679,000 and must forfeit more than $204,000.

Richard Zappala, of Northfield, a pharmaceutical sales representative, admitted to fraud totaling $4.3 million, which he must pay back. According to court documents, Zappala acted as a recruiter in the scheme, getting individuals to obtain expensive and medically unnecessary compounded medications from an out-of-state pharmacy from January 2015 through April 2016.

Michael Neopolitan, of Willow Grove, a pharmaceutical sales representative, has admitted to defrauding New Jersey state health benefits programs and other insurers out of millions of dollars by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions.

Andrew Gerstel, of Galloway Township, is a pharmaceutical representative. As part of his plea agreement, Gerstel must forfeit $184,389 in criminal proceeds he received for his role in the scheme and pay restitution of at least $483,946. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Timothy Frazier, of Galloway Township, a commercial construction estimator, submitted fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions.

Michael Pilate, of Williamstown, and a Pleasantville High School guidance counselor, was described in court as a mid-level conspirator who received $500 from a co-conspirator per prescription he filled, according to court testimony. He also recruited other people and paid them each $500 per prescription, according to court testimony. As part of Pilate’s plea agreement, he must forfeit $392,684 and pay restitution of $3.49 million — the amount of fraud resulting from his participation in the scheme.

Shawn Sypherd, of Upper Township, a middle school teacher, admitted to conspiracy to commit fraud of the State Health Benefits Plan. Sypherd’s actions resulted in more than $2.4 million in fraudulent reimbursements from the State Health Benefits Plan. He received more than $354,264 for his role as a recruiter, according to court documents.

Nicholas Tedesco, of Linwood, is a retail director for a local candy company. Tedesco admitted defrauding state benefits programs and other insurers out of more than $2 million by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito and New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said.

Michael Sher, of Northfield, retired unexpectedly from the Margate Fire Department in May 2018. Sher became the first Margate municipal employee to sign a plea agreement in this case.

Richard “Erick” McAllister, of Ocean City, teaches English at Pleasantville High School. He must forfeit $456,806 and pay restitution of at least $3.4 million for his role in the scheme, according to his plea agreement.

William Hunter, an industrial equipment salesman from Sewell, must forfeit about $245,020 and pay restitution of at least $1.32 million, according to his plea agreement.

Tara LaMonaca, of Linwood, a pharmaceutical representative, faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. LaMonaca must forfeit the $89,855 she received for her role in the scheme.

Robert Madonna, formerly of Atlantic County, currently of Florida, was one of the owners of a company formed to market prescription compounded medications, according to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. From May 2015 through February 2016, Madonna and others associated with the company persuaded individuals in New Jersey to obtain expensive and medically unnecessary compounded medications, Grewal said.

James Wildman, of Marmora, an Ocean City school maintenance worker, admitted serving as a recruiter in the conspiracy, persuading individuals, especially those on the state health benefits plan, to obtain medically unnecessary compounded prescriptions in exchange for money. Wildman said he received $657,040 for his role in the scheme.

Corey Sutor, of Egg Harbor Township, a Ventnor firefighter, admitted to receiving about $150,000 for his role in the scheme. He joined the Ventnor Fire Department in 2008.

Edward Sutor, of Linwood, a Ventnor firefighter, admitted to receiving about $335,552 for his role in the scheme. Edward Sutor stated with the department in 2013.

Mark Bruno, 45, a pharmaceutical sales representative from Northfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Robert B. Kugler to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and obstruction of justice on Dec. 17, 2019.

William Hickman, of Northfield, a pharmaceutical sales representative, was one of the alleged local ringleaders, who recruited a network of people to submit fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions.

Sara Hickman, of Norhtfield, created Boardwalk Medical LLC which received roughly $26 million in kickbacks for its role, some of which it distributed to others in the enterprise for their services as recruiters.

Brian Pugh, of Absecon, co-owner of Tony’s Baltimore Grill and owner of BP Med 1 LLC., was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and with individual acts of health care fraud and wire fraud.

Thomas Schallus, a Ventnor police officer, was allegedly recruited by Pugh.

Christopher Broccoli, of West Deptford, Gloucester County, a Camden firefighter, was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and with individual acts of health care fraud and wire fraud

Thomas Sher, of Northfield, at left. He and his brother, John Sher, 37, of Margate, not shown, both Margate firefighters, were allegedly recruited by their brother Michael Sher, another Margate firefighter. Michael Sher pleaded guilty in the case earlier. Originally barred from meeting with his brothers without a lawyer or parent present, the bail condition was lifted by Judge Robert Kugler on March 27.

John Sher, 37, of Margate, a Margate firefighter, charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and with individual acts of health care fraud and wire fraud. Originally barred from meeting with his brothers without a lawyer or parent present, the bail condition was lifted by Judge Robert Kugler on March 27. The Shers' fourth brother, Dennis, was considered a potential witness to the alleged fraud.

Jason Chacker, 36, of Feasterville, Pennsylvania, a physician’s assistant who practiced in Mercer County, pleaded guilty in October 2019 before Judge Robert Kugler to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in the scheme involving compounded medications.

Laboratory sales representative Steven Monaco, 37, of Sewell, who founded and operated SMJ Consultants LLC, pleaded not guilty in October 2019 after being charged in a 33-count indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.

Dr. Daniel Oswari, 48, of Bordentown, who operated a practice in Trenton, pleaded not guilty in October 2019 after being charged in a 33-count indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.

Dr. Michael Goldis, 63, of Mount Laurel, who operated a practice in Stratford, pleaded not guilty in October 2019 after being charged in a 33-count indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.

Aaron Jones, 25, of Willingboro, who worked as a medical assistant for Goldis, pleaded not guilty in October 2019 after being charged in a 33-count indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.

Dr. Brian Sokalsky, 42, of Margate, was charged with individual acts of health care and wire fraud. Officials allege that Sokalsky had an arrangement with Matthew Tedesco, of Northfield, who is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. 

Vincent Tornari, 46, of Linwood, is charged with individual acts of health care and wire fraud after he allegedly hired Mark Bruno to find patients who would agree to receive medications in exchange for cash payments, according to officials. Bruno pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud for his participation in the scheme. He is currently awaiting sentencing.

Advanced practice nurse Ashley Lyons-Valenti, 63, of Swedesboro, Gloucester County, allegedly persuaded her workers and subordinates at her medical office to receive prescription medications from the Pennsylvania pharmacy that they did not need, often without giving them a medical examination or recording the prescriptions in their medical records, officials said. Lyons-Valenti wrote prescriptions for which insurance paid over $1.25 million and she received over $90,000 in kickbacks.

Hayley Taff, 37, CEO of Louisiana-based Central Rexall Drugs, pleaded guilty in August to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. 

Keith Ritson, 40, of the Bayville section of Berkeley Township, Ocean County, is charged with defrauding the New Jersey state health benefits programs and other insurers out of more than $2.5 million and unlawfully obtained and disclosed individually identifiable patient health information, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as individual acts of health care fraud and wire fraud, according to the release. They also are charged with a second conspiracy to wrongfully obtain and disclose patients’ individually identifiable health information.

Dr. Frank Alario, 63, of Delray Beach, Florida, is charged with defrauding the New Jersey state health benefits programs and other insurers out of more than $2.5 million and unlawfully obtained and disclosed individually identifiable patient health information, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as individual acts of health care fraud and wire fraud, according to the release. They also are charged with a second conspiracy to wrongfully obtain and disclose patients’ individually identifiable health information.

Christopher Kyle Johnston, 41, of Mandeville, Louisiana, a former executive at Central Rexall Drugs Inc., has been charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and a second conspiracy to commit identity theft by using individuals’ personal identifying information without their consent.

Trent Brockmeier, 58, of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, a former executive at Central Rexall Drugs Inc., has been charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and a second conspiracy to commit identity theft by using individuals’ personal identifying information without their consent.

 Christopher Casseri, 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a former executive at Central Rexall Drugs Inc., has been charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and a second conspiracy to commit identity theft by using individuals’ personal identifying information without their consent.