Pharmacy Technician Indicted for Mail Fraud in Prescription Reimbursement Scheme

BIRMINGHAM -- A federal grand jury today indicted a former Madison County pharmacy technician for mail fraud in connection with a prescription drug insurance reimbursement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and U.S. Postal Inspector Frank Dyer.

 A five-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges HOLLY L. CHAMPION, 29, of Madison, with five counts of mail fraud between February 2011 and June 2012 when she worked for Star Discount Pharmacy in Meridianville in Madison County. According to the indictment, Champion submitted false prescription information to her insurance provider, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, causing the company to mail her checks totaling about $7,600 as reimbursement for prescription drugs she never purchased.

 Champion entered false prescription information on herself and family members into the pharmacy's automated prescription dispensing system so it would generate a claim number, which she then submitted to Blue Cross seeking up to 80 percent reimbursement for the cost of the fake prescriptions, according to the indictment.

 The maximum penalty for each mail fraud count is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis A. Barlow is prosecuting.

 An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.