Man Sentenced for Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud and Making a False Statement to the Government

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Paul M. Hughes, 37, formerly of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 4, 2025 in federal court in Omaha for obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and making a false statement to the government. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Hughes to 48 months’ imprisonment for the drug charge and 54 months’ imprisonment for the false statement. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hughes’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

Between March 2020 and May 2021 Hughes used his personal information and the alter egos “The Hughes and Company Foundation USA Coalition Company” and “The Hughes and Company Foundation USA Coalition- Virtual Infirmary” for the purposes of submitting false and fictitious information to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to obtain National Provider Identification (NPI) numbers.

Specifically, on March 21, 2020, Hughes prepared and submitted an electronic NPI Application that contained false information. CMS relied on the information to make its decision on issuing the NPI numbers.  The NPI Application fraudulently represented that Hughes was a physician and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. Hughes was issued an NPI number by CMS temporarily. Hughes used the NPI number to submit fake prescriptions to various pharmacies.

Between March 17, 2021, and March 19, 2021, Hughes, listing a real doctor as the prescriber, electronically submitted a fraudulent prescription to a local pharmacy requesting at least one Schedule III Controlled Substance.  When interviewed by law enforcement, Hughes admitted he submitted the fraudulent prescription to the pharmacy using the doctor’s name.

“Fraudulently obtaining and prescribing prescription medications under false pretenses shows a reckless disregard for public health and safety,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Wade Moon, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Kansas City Field Office. “We remain committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who attempt to knowingly misrepresent themselves as health care professionals to unsuspecting consumers and the government.”

“When individuals pretend to be legitimate health care providers to commit fraud, they undermine the public’s trust in our medical system and compromise the integrity of federal health care programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Kansas City Regional Office.  “HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who commit such fraud schemes are held fully accountable.”

“Today’s sentencing is the result of multiple state, local and federal components working together to remove an individual who committed egregious crimes,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafael Mattei. “Paul Hughes falsified information, misled members of the community, and endangered lives. This investigation shows that no matter the length of time necessary, justice will be served for those who inflict harm in our communities.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Nebraska State Patrol.