BALTIMORE PHARMACIST CHARGED WITH STEALING
THOUSANDS FROM MEDICAID, PRIVATE INSURERS

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Hyacinth Uche, a pharmacist in Baltimore City, has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from Medicaid and private insurers between 2000 and 2002, by billing for medications that were never requested by nor provided to customers.

Uche, 57, of the 1400 block of King William Drive in Woodlawn, is the owner of HISCO Pharmacy, located at 5613 Belair Road in Baltimore. He has been charged with one count of felony Medicaid fraud, three counts of felony insurance fraud, and four counts of theft.

Felony Medicaid fraud is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Felony insurance fraud is punishable by not more than fifteen years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Felony theft is punishable by not more than fifteen years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Earlier this year, Uche was charged by the Office of the Attorney General in a 20-count indictment alleging that on 10 different occasions, he illegally distributed narcotics from his pharmacy. That case is currently scheduled for trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court on January 13, 2003.

Bail in the fraud case has been set at $25,000. An arraignment date has not yet been set.

An indictment is but an accusation based upon a finding of probable cause, and a Defendant is innocent unless proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with the assistance of the Insurance Fraud Division.

#