Stafford Woman Admits Fraud With Prescription Scheme

CAMDEN, NJ - A woman admitted to being the recruiter for a conspiracy that defrauded the New Jersey state medical benefit programs, according the the New Jersey Attorney General. Kristie Masucci, 36, of Stafford Township was part of a conspiracy that had public service employees file claims for for medically unnecessary prescriptions filled through another state.

Masucci worked with an out of state pharmacy to fulfill orders for compounded prescriptions Compounded prescriptions are not approved by the FDA, but may be prescribed when a physician deems it better for an individual over a FDA approved drugs, according the the New Jersey Attorney General. The drugs in question were pain, scar, antifungal and libido creams, as well as vitamin combinations.

Masucci convinced public workers to obtain the compounded drugs from the out of state pharmacy, so the pharmacy would be reimbursed thousands of dollars for each one month supply, according the the New Jersey Attorney General. The prescriptions submitted were signed off by a doctor, who never checked if any of the individuals were in need of the medication. After the medication was sent, the State of New Jersey was then billed for the cost.

The pharmacy was $50 million for medications mailed to individuals in New Jersey and Masucci received $388,608 for her role as recruiter, according the the New Jersey Attorney General.

Masucci is the 21st person to enter a plea deal in the scheme, according to the Atlantic City Press. Matthew Tedesco, 42, was the first to plead guilty and made $11 million in just over a year from the conspiracy. Tedesco, a pharmaceutical representative, also coached the a Powder Puff football league in Somers Point, which Masucci played on.

Masucci faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is set for February 5, 2019. Masucci also must forfeit all her criminal gains and pay restitution as part of her plea deal.

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