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Press Release

Three Arrested In The Fort Wayne Area As Part Of the National Health Care Fraud Takedown

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Indiana

HAMMOND- Acting United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced today that a federal grand jury returned a ten -count indictment against Fort Wayne physician Dr. James E. Ranochak and two Fort Wayne area pharmacists, Brent A. Losier and Charles N. Ringger.

 

The indictment charges Ranochak, Losier and Ringger with conspiring to illegally distribute and dispense controlled substances (Methadone, Hydrocodone and Testosterone) outside the scope of professional practice and not for legitimate medical purpose. The three defendants also face eight separate counts of distributing and dispensing controlled substances to specific patients outside the scope of professional practice and not for legitimate medical purpose. Finally, all three defendants are charged in a health care fraud conspiracy aimed at defrauding the Indiana Medicaid program through the submission of thousands of dollars in fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary drugs and non-emergency supplies of controlled drugs issued to patients without the patients actually being seen by a physician.

 

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

 

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, the Indiana State Police and the Indiana Office of the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane L. Berkowitz.

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Updated July 13, 2017

Topic
Health Care Fraud