MONTGOMERY COUNTY PHARMACIST CHARGED WITH FRAUD

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that a Montgomery County Pharmacist and the corporation he owns have been charged with defrauding the Medicaid program by billing Medicaid for prescriptions that were never filled. Arthur Weinstein, 62, owns and is the pharmacist at the Medical Pharmacy of Chevy Chase.

Weinstein, of the 1000 block of Bellview Road in McLean, Virginia, and the Medical Pharmacy of Chevy Chase located in the 5500 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland, were each charged by the Baltimore City Grand Jury with one count of Felony Medicaid Fraud and one count of Felony Theft. Medicaid is a joint state and federal-funded program that provides health services to the indigent.

The charges against Weinstein and the Medical Pharmacy of Chevy Chase were filed at the request of Maryland Attorney General Curran following an investigation conducted by investigators from the Maryland Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. An indictment is an accusation based upon a finding of probable cause by the grand jury. All persons are considered innocent unless proven guilty. Felony Medicaid Fraud, if proven, is punishable by up to 5 years in jail and a $100,000 fine. Felony Theft is punishable by up to 15 years in jail and a $25,000 fine. If convicted, Weinstein and the Medical Pharmacy of Chevy Chase may also be ordered to pay restitution of up to three times the amount allegedly stolen from the Medicaid program.

An arraignment date is set for November 10, 2004 in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.

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