The co-owner and administrator of a Union City, New Jersey pharmacy have been sentenced for their involvement in defrauding pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and health care providers, including Medicare and Medicaid, out of over $65 million. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the sentencing of Samuel “Sam” Khaimov, 52, and Yana Shtindler, 48, both from Glen Head, New York. They were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp after pleading guilty.
Khaimov received an 87-month prison sentence—60 months for conspiring to commit health care fraud and 27 months for conspiring to violate the federal anti-kickback statute. He will also serve three-year terms of supervised release concurrently.
Shtindler was sentenced to 72 months in prison for conspiring to commit health care fraud, followed by three years of supervised release. Their co-defendants Ruben Sevumyants and Alex Fleyshmakher have already pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The Prime Aid Pharmacies operated as specialty pharmacies in Union City, New Jersey, and the Bronx, New York. These pharmacies processed expensive medications for conditions such as Hepatitis C and Crohn’s disease. Khaimov co-owned Prime Aid Union City and was the lead pharmacist at Prime Aid Bronx while Shtindler served as the administrator at Prime Aid Union City.
Initially obtaining retail network agreements with several PBMs allowed Prime Aid Pharmacies to receive reimbursement payments for prescription medications. Starting in 2009, Khaimov along with Sevumyants and Fleyshmakher paid bribes to doctors’ offices to increase prescription referrals to their pharmacies.
Prime Aid Union City engaged in fraudulent billing practices under the direction of Sevumyants, Shtindler, and Khaimov by charging health benefit providers for medications never dispensed or even ordered between 2013 through 2017.
Audits conducted by PBMs uncovered these fraudulent activities leading Shtindler to instruct employees to falsify records submitted during audits while Sevumyants forged shipping records with her knowledge.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents from various agencies including FBI Special Agent Stefanie Roddy; IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent Jenifer Piovesan; Department of Health & Human Services Inspector General Naomi Gruchacz; N.J.’s Office Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M Thompson; N.J.’s State Comptroller Kevin Walsh for their investigation efforts resulting in today’s guilty pleas.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Aaron L Webman from Newark’s Economic Crimes Unit alongside Martha K Nye represented the government throughout this case.
Khaimov’s defense counsel: Jenny Kramer Esq., New York NY
Shtindler’s defense counsel: Lawrence Lustberg Esq., Newark NJ
