New Jersey’s Acting Attorney General Peter Harvey announced that a Hudson County woman pled guilty to forging drug prescriptions as part of a reported scheme to obtain controlled drugs through the use of fraudulent prescriptions.
According to Vaughn McKoy, Acting Director, Division of Criminal Justice and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Christine Schmidt pled guilty before Essex County Superior Judge Harold J. Fullilove to an Accusation which charged two counts of forgery (3rd degree). A third degree crime carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Schmidt may also face civil insurance fraud fines pursuant to the civil Insurance Fraud Prevention Act. Schmidt is scheduled to appear before Judge Fullilove on June 3 for sentencing.
At the guilty plea hearing, Schmidt reportedly admitted that she forged at least nine prescriptions using the names of two licensed physicians. The prescriptions were subsequently presented to two Newark pharmacies in an effort to obtain controlled substances. The doctors whose names appeared on the prescriptions were reportedly unaware of the forged documents and did not authorize the prescription drugs.
“Forgery of prescriptions is another common means by which criminals submit false health insurance claims. The Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor will continue to investigate and prosecute these crimes,” said Brown.
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