FLORAL PARK, Long Island (WABC) — Nassau County authorities say they have uncovered multiple “ghost pharmacies” that allegedly billed Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance companies for expensive medications that were never provided to patients.
Officials said community tips led investigators to storefronts in Floral Park on Jericho Turnpike and in Freeport on Guy Lombardo Avenue. Authorities allege bogus corporations used the locations to bill for some of the costliest drugs used to treat illnesses such as HIV and cancer, even though no patients received the medications.
“The doctor’s identity was stolen,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. “and then they stole identities from patients, and then wrote prescriptions for those patients.”
According to authorities, the alleged scheme benefited two suspects who each made millions of dollars before leaving the country.
“They’re like, ‘Hey, here’s my name, but I’m leaving before you even catch me,'” Ryder said.
Police identified the suspects as Bakhodir Mirodimov of Uzbekistan and Abdilakim Berdikulov of Kurdistan. Authorities said Mirodimov made off with $3 million in 31 days, while Berdikulov left with $5 million.
“They both were issued New York State drivers licenses. They both used those drivers licenses to open up their corporation,” Ryder said.
Investigators said they are not certain whether the two men are connected, but they do not believe they were the only people involved in this type of crime.
“We believe there are dozens of these pharmacies, ” Ryder said. “They shut it up like a shelf account, run the money through it, overbill us, and we get stuck holding the tab at the end of the day.”
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said the alleged fraud affects the public.
“Fraud that drives up costs for you and me, undermines our health care system, but I promise…we will connect the dots,” she added.
Authorities have filed felony charges against the corporations involved, officials said. The two suspects have already left the country, and Nassau County has enlisted federal assistance as the investigation continues.
Officials said they are working to address what they believe is a problem that extends beyond the two storefronts and impacts taxpayers throughout the region.
