St. Francis Man Indicted on False Statements and Attempt to Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters and Attempt to Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud.

Daniel Farmer, age 21, was indicted on August 16, 2017. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 5, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on June 8, 2017, Farmer knowingly and intentionally falsified a prescription for Tramadol, a Schedule IV controlled substance, and presented that prescription to the Indian Health Services Pharmacy in Rosebud, South Dakota, knowing it to be false.

The charge is merely an accusation and Farmer is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Health and Human Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan is prosecuting the case.

Farmer was released pending trial. A trial date has not been set.