June 5, 2018: Opioid Prescription Conspiracy Leader Pleads Guilty
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Food and Drug Administration
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U.S. Department of Justice Press Release
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For Immediate Release |
United States Department of Justice District of Rhode Island |
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PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man who led a conspiracy to create fraudulent prescriptions for opioid pills using stolen medical practitioner identification numbers and identities, and, at times, unlawfully paying for the prescriptions with the use of medical insurance, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute Oxycodone, and aggravated identity theft.
Robert Rose, 52, the acknowledged leader of the conspiracy, is the fourth person to plead guilty for their role in the conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Jeffrey Ebersole Resident Agent in Charge of the United States Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations.
A fifth defendant charged in this matter is awaiting trial in U.S. District Court.
According to court documents, it was the intent of the conspiracy to manufacture fraudulent prescriptions utilizing the identities and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identification numbers and signatures of medical practitioners without their consent. Prescriptions for varying amounts of Oxycodone pills were written and presented to pharmacies by some members of the conspiracy and others working at the direction of the conspirators. The scheme often times included the fraudulent use of medical insurance to pay pharmacies for the illicit prescriptions. Most of the Oxycodone pills gained with the use of fraudulent prescriptions were sold to others for distribution.
At the time of his guilty plea, Robert Rose admitted to the Court that as the leader of the conspiracy, he paid for individuals’ identities, health care insurance information, and for various prescribing medical practitioners’ names and DEA numbers. Rose provided that information to others who participated in the conspiracy, along with special paper necessary to produce the fraudulent prescriptions.
Rose admitted to running the conspiracy for several months while incarcerated at the Adult Correctional Institution on an unrelated matter.
Robert Rose is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on October 5, 2018. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment, 3 years supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a statutory penalty of a mandatory sentence of 2 years imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence imposed in this matter.
Three other members of the conspiracy previously pleaded guilty in this matter and are awaiting sentencing:
· Michael Slonski, 48, of Johnston, pleaded guilty on April 2, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute Oxycodone. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2018.
· David Rose, 59, of Providence, pleaded guilty on March 7, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10, 2018.
· Victoria Rose-Coccia, 29, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty on February 28, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute Oxycodone. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2018.
A fifth individual charged in this matter, Tammy Bonham, 53, of Providence, is awaiting trial on a charge of conspiracy to acquire or obtain possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, or subterfuge; misbranding drugs.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.
The matter was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations.
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Topic(s):
Opioids
Identity Theft
Component(s):
Contact:
Jim Martin (401) 709-5357
Press Release Number:
18-68