A former New Jersey medical assistant has pleaded guilty to fraud charges in a scheme prosecutors estimate bilked local health benefits programs and other insurers upwards of $1 million.
Aaron Jones faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000 after entering his plea on a single count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud by videoconference in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler. According to U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna, the 27-year-old Willingboro resident’s scheme included his submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions.
The U.S. Department of Justice adds that the scheme operated with Jones, who worked in Stratford for a practice owned by Dr. Michael Goldis, being paid by pharmaceutical sales representative Richard Zappala for identifying patients at the facility who had insurance plans that would cover compounded prescription medications.
Jones is accused of then forging the doctor’s signature on numerous compounded medication prescriptions, including those for individuals who were not Goldis’ patients. As the scheme persisted, prosecutors said Jones was paid about $10,000 in cash. He is scheduled to be sentenced in early July.
Jones was also previously indicted on conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud charges in an action where Goldis was also charged, along with Steven Monaco and Dr. Daniel Oswari. In June of 2020, Goldis pleaded guilty to four counts of making false statements relating to health care matters, six months before Oswari pleaded guilty to fraud and kickback charges.
The charges are still pending against Monaco, who is scheduled for trial in Camden federal court before Kugler in early April.
In September 2017, Zappala pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
