Prosecutors: NJ firefighter convicted for role in $50M prescription drug fraud

CAMDEN, N.J. — A New Jersey firefighter was convicted on Thursday for his role in a $50 million prescription drug fraud in which he defrauded public health insurance plans out of approximately $1 million, prosecutors said.

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Thomas Sher, 50, of Northfield, was found guilty in Camden federal court of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud, according to a news release from the U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

According to prosecutors, Sher was part of a criminal conspiracy where state and local government employees were recruited and compensated to receive medically unnecessary compound prescription medications, NJ.com reported.

Sher caused the pharmacy benefits administrator to pay out almost $1 million for the prescriptions, prosecutors said. Sher directly received approximately $115,000 for his role, according to the news release.

The conspiracy was conducted between July 2014 and April 2016 and led to millions of dollars in kickbacks, according to NJ.com.

Sher and more than a dozen other people were indicted in March 2019 on charges that they defrauded New Jersey health benefits programs and other insurers, the website reported. So far, approximately 40 people have been convicted or pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, prosecutors said.

Sher faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest, the news release stated.

He will be sentenced on Jan. 10, 2023.

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