MARKETER SENTENCED IN HEALTH CARE FRAUD INVESTIGATION

Joseph Kieffer, a marketer from Los Angeles, was sentenced on September 8, 2021, in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, to six months in prison, three years’ probation, a $10,000 fine, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,250,000 and a money judgment of forfeiture of $328,835. Kieffer previously pleaded guilty to paying kickbacks to marketers and some patients to obtain medically unnecessary compounded drugs, which allowed Fusion RX Compounding Pharmacy to bill health care providers for those drugs. Many of the prescription claims were reimbursed at rates much higher than average medications. The owner of Fusion Rx Compounding Pharmacy was also charged for his role in the scheme. Amtrak’s health insurance plan was fraudulently billed $17,000 as a result. Criminal judicial proceedings for other defendants are pending.