Long before a massive multimillion-dollar health care fraud involving high-priced pain creams and other medications unfolded, two of the scheme s central architects worked together at another company accused of fraud.
Wade Walters, Hope Thomley and others were named in a lawsuit filed by Pearl River County Hospital in November 2013 alleging Performance Accounts Receivable and Performance Capital Leasing, Walters, Thomley and other individuals and entities acted in concert to coerce the hospital to defraud Medicare and Medicaid.
Walters is listed as owners of both companies, which are now defunct. The fraud perpetrated upon the hospital was primarily orchestrated by Walters through Thomley and (Walters ) agent Mike Boleware who, although being employed by the hospital as its chief executive officer, was also, upon information and belief, receiving compensation directly or indirectly from Walters, Thomley, and/or one of their companies, the lawsuit claimed.
“This is not in my character,” Moran said. “I’ve learned my lesson in this.”
The scheme, which began in Mississippi, has defrauded TRICARE and other health care benefits providers of more than $1.5 billion nationwide, the government contends. At least 25 people have been charged, and 20 of them have been convicted at trial or pleaded guilty.
U.S. Senior Judge Keith Starrett said in court Tuesday that Moran, like the others in the case, was a good person until he got “caught up in this greed, this evil.”
“I’ve seen a lot of shows in my career as a judge and seen a lot of very sad cases through the years,” Starrett said. “The sad thing is the tremendous ability and potential you have for good. This involved so many people, so many lives ruined, so many careers lost.”
MS pain cream scheme: Ex-pharmacist Marco Moran going to prison, must pay back millions Lici Beveridge, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Former pharmacist Marco Moran, one of more than 20 people convicted in a massive health care fraud involving compounded pain creams and other medications, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Hattiesburg to 10 years in prison.
He also must forfeit nearly $12.2 million in cash and pay restitution of around $22.1 million and a fine of $20,000.
Moran, 47, was charged in September 2018 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He pleaded guilty the same day.
He apologized to the court and the government as well as his children and a grandchild.