Attorney General Josh Shapiro Announces Charges against Six Members of Drug Diversion Ring in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties

February 13, 2019 | Topic: Criminal

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced charges against six individuals for their participation in a scheme to illegally obtain prescription drugs for illicit use over an eight-month period. The individuals charged are: Sabrina Thomas; Brooke Cross; Rhonda Anthony; Rebekah Carwithen; Jacqueline Keys and Adam Fincik.

The diversion scheme was initiated by Thomas, an employee of Dr. Nabir Jabbour. Thomas, later joined by Cross, fraudulently called in prescriptions for Buprenorphine and Gabapentin under Dr. Jabbour’s DEA number – without his consent or knowledge. The other individuals being charged either assisted in the scheme or obtained the illegally diverted drugs. The offenses occurred in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties between June 2015 and February 2016

“The illegal diversion of prescription drugs is harming our communities, and my office is committed to investigating these cases to protect the public safety of all Pennsylvanians,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “These individuals took advantage of their positions to unlawfully obtain prescription drugs for illicit purposes. Thanks to strong collaboration between the OAG Medicaid Fraud Control Section and the Pennsylvania State Police, the defendants are being brought to justice.”

On September 27, 2018, Dr. Nabil Jabbour was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on charges of unlawful distribution of Buprenorphine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, health care fraud and money laundering.

The case was filed before Magistrate Mark Mansour in Westmoreland County and will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Tomm Mutschler.

 

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