Troy Pharmacist, Two Others Convicted of Health Care Fraud in Wide-Ranging Scheme

A Troy pharmacist was convicted with two other medical professionals Wednesday in Detroit on federal charges of health care fraud and controlled substance distribution, according to U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade's office.

Pharmacist Mitesh Patel, 39 of Troy, was convicted of health care fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and other charges. Patel was acquitted of conspiracy to pay or receive health care kickbacks. 

Anmy Tran, 42 of Clinton Township and psychologist Sanyani Edwards, 34 of Southfield, were convicted of conspiracies to commit health care fraud, to distribute controlled substances and to pay or receive health care kickbacks.

The convictions were part of a wider ranging scheme from January 2006 to August 2011 centered around Canton Pharmacist Babubhai Patel who owned and controlled more than 20 pharmacies in southeastern Michigan.

"Babubhai Patel paid cash kickbacks and other things of value to physicians in exchange for those physicians writing prescriptions for expensive medications, without regard to medical necessity, that could be billed to Medicare, Medicaid, or a private insurer through one of the Patel Pharmacies," according to federal authorities. 

Tran, Edwards and Mitesh Patel are among 26 people who were charged in August 2011 with participating in the health care fraud network. They have all since been convicted of felonies. Babubhai Patel is serving a 17-year prison sentence, authorities said. 

Thirteen other people were charged last March in relation to the scheme. Those cases are pending, with trials slated for January.