HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against a Monroe County woman who fraudulently obtained nearly 8,300 oxycodone pills from 19 different providers while claiming she had terminal cancer.
Brandi Leigh Bachman is charged with 21 felony counts of acquisition of a controlled substance by fraud, along with counts of identity theft and criminal use of a communication facility. She was arrested Wednesday and bail was set at $25,000. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 14.
Between 2021 and 2024, Bachman, 40, told providers in Monroe, Lehigh, and Carbon counties that she had a malignant melanoma that had metastasized to her lungs. In some cases, she used forged documents as proof of her diagnosis.
“Fraudulently obtaining thousands of opioid prescription pills in this manner is offensive to those living with a legitimate diagnosis. This conduct also endangers our communities by increasing the supply of these drugs available for off-label use,” Attorney General Sunday said. “This criminal scheme allowed the defendant to access opioids for years, deceiving providers who believed they were treating legitimate pain from a terminal illness.”
Over the course of the investigation, multiple providers said Bachman informed them that she had terminal cancer, but had difficulty getting her documents for various reasons. In some cases, she did submit documentation, which the providers named on the documents later identified as forgeries.
When providers would suggest treatment and additional testing to confirm her diagnosis, Bachman would often reply that she did not want treatment anymore; she just wanted care to help ease the end of her life.
In all, Bachman obtained 8,298 tablets through her scheme, and stole the identities of three physicians to further her fraudulent claims.
This case was investigated by the Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics – Allentown and will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christie Bonesch. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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