Rego Park Pharmacist Indicted In Prescription Scheme, Feds Say

REGO PARK, QUEENS — A Rego Park pharmacist was hit with conspiracy charges after reportedly enabling a years-long pharmaceutical scheme, federal records show.

For nearly three years, Bruce Snipas, the owner and pharmacist-in-charge of Rego Park's B&E Pharmaceuticals, Inc., apparently conspired with a Florida-based health care company in exchange for tens-of-thousands of dollars in illicit payments.

The 68-year-old pharmacist made false prescription claims to various health care programs, including New York Medicaid, and processed those claims through the unnamed health care company, according to a federal indictment unsealed this week.

As a result, the health care company raked in over $30 million; $65,000 of which it send to Snipas, in exchange for the pharmacist continuing to direct false prescription claims through the company.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said that Snipas took advantage of the Medicaid program for his own personal gain.

"This Office is committed to protecting the integrity of government programs, including health insurance programs like Medicaid that benefit the district’s most vulnerable residents," he said.

Snipas was arrested on Dec. 7th, and formally hit with two conspiracy charges — conspiring to make false statements in health care matters and to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute — as well as a health care fraud charge.

He was released later that day on a $150,000 bond.