Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for $2.69 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

Robert Bessey, a 49-year-old man from Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for his involvement in a health care fraud scheme. Bessey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, admitting his role in defrauding New Jersey state health benefits programs and other insurers out of $2.69 million.

According to federal authorities, Bessey and his co-conspirators operated from January 2015 to April 2016. They convinced individuals in New Jersey to obtain expensive and medically unnecessary compounded medications from an out-of-state pharmacy. The pharmacy benefits administrator would reimburse pharmacies thousands of dollars for these prescriptions, including creams for pain, scars, antifungal purposes, libido, and certain vitamin combinations.

The pharmacy benefits administrator managed the prescription drug benefit plan for New Jersey state and local government employees, including teachers, firefighters, municipal police officers, and state troopers. Bessey and his accomplices recruited public employees and others covered by the administrator to fraudulently obtain these medications without any medical evaluation to prove their necessity.

In addition to the prison term, Bessey has been sentenced to two years of supervised release. He has also been ordered to forfeit $485,540 and pay restitution of $2.69 million.