Wayne county Pharmacist Receives Prison Sentence for $7.2 Million Medicare Fraud
A Wayne County pharmacist has been sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud Medicare, the Department of Justice announced today. Ali Kassem, 38, of Dearborn, was sentenced to 78 months in prison and ordered to pay $7,248,188 in restitution.
The fraud centered around Kassem’s operation of Pharmco Pharmacy in Westland, Michigan. Between January 2016 and December 2019, Kassem submitted false claims to Medicare for prescriptions that were never filled, for medically needless compounded medications, and for medications dispensed in quantities exceeding what was prescribed. This scheme allowed Kassem to illegally obtain over $7.2 million from the federal healthcare program. The case highlights ongoing federal efforts to combat healthcare fraud and protect taxpayer dollars.
According to court documents,Kassem used the fraudulent proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle,including luxury vehicles and real estate. He was convicted in November 2023 following a jury trial. “This defendant exploited the Medicare system for personal gain, diverting critical resources from legitimate healthcare needs,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to investigating and prosecuting those who seek to defraud our healthcare programs.”
