Two Plead Guilty In Connection With Sunshine Pharmacy Health Care Fraud Scheme

Fort Myers, Florida – Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Delmer Holmes Parrish (44) and Patricia Parrish (74), both of Naples, today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.  Delmer Holmes Parrish, a licensed pharmacist, and Patricia Parrish each face a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.  In addition, they have agreed to pay restitution to the United States in the amount of $351,358.14.  As part of the agreement, Delmer Holmes Parrish has also agreed to voluntarily relinquish his pharmacist license to the State of Florida. A sentencing date has not yet been set.   

According to the plea agreement, from in or around February 2009 through in or about July 2012, Delmer Holmes Parrish and Patricia Parrish participated in a conspiracy to defraud federal health care benefit programs out of approximately $351,358.14.  Along with others, both used Sunshine Pharmacy and Sunshine Solutions to submit and cause claims to be submitted for reimbursement from Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE programs for prescriptions not filled or provided to beneficiaries and recipients. The claims included prescriptions for patients that had not been written or authorized by any duly licensed physician.  In addition, the co-conspirators submitted and caused claims to be submitted for reimbursement from these same programs for beneficiaries and recipients who were deceased. 

In carrying out the offense, the conspirators also used the means of identification of individuals who were enrolled in the Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE programs, without their knowledge or consent.  The members of the conspiracy also would and did perform acts and made statements to hide and conceal the scheme.  As a result of the fraudulent scheme, the government’s losses totaled approximately $351,358.14.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. They were assisted by the Naples Police Department, Collier County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Secret Service.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David G. Lazarus.