Beginning in December, a nearly $700,000 grant will give faculty members, staff and students at Stockton University a unique opportunity to examine the harbor seal population through a first-ever satellite tagging operation in New Jersey. Harbor seals have a regular Read more…
The Margate City Police Department will hold a bicycle auction 10 a.m. Saturday, July 22 at the Police Department Garage on the 100-block of N. Decatur Ave. Items up for bid available for preview starting at 9:30 a.m. Items confiscated Read more…
MARGATE – After the COVID 19 pandemic and 15 months of extensive restoration, Lucy the Elephant, the city’s famous National Historic Landmark and America’s Oldest Roadside Attraction, is ready to celebrate her 142nd birthday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Read more…
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY MARGATE – Sustainable Margate Chairman Steve Jasiecki July 6 provided the Board of Commissioners with information about the green team’s goal to obtain Sustainable Jersey recertification in 2024. The highlight of his report was his involvement Read more…
LONGPORT – Mayor Nicholas Russo, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, will hold a talk about the history of the Coast Guard 10 a.m. Friday, July 14 at the Longport Public Library in Borough Hall, 2305 Atlantic Ave. Read more…
ATLANTIC CITY – Cooper Levenson celebrated Gina Corbin’s 50th year as a law firm employee on July 6. Corbin, a lifelong Atlantic City resident, has been employed with Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law since June 18, 1973. She joined the Read more…
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI and MADDY VITALE Opponents of a proposed wind energy farm off the South Jersey coast will link hands on the beaches Saturday in a protest symbolizing their unified fight against a project they believe will be an Read more…
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U.S. District Court, Camden, NJ[/caption]
CAMDEN - A former Margate firefighter and a West Deptford man were sentenced to prison today for their respective roles in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.
Thomas Sher, 50, of Northfield, was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Sher, a former Margate firefighter, was found guilty on Sept. 8, 2022, of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud following a 12-day trial before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court.
Christopher Broccoli, 51, of West Deptford, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Broccoli pleaded guilty before Judge Kugler on July 28, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to documents filed in these cases, statements made in court, and the evidence at trial, Sher and Broccoli were part of a criminal conspiracy in which state and local government employees were recruited and compensated to receive medically unnecessary compound prescription medications. Sher and others recruited almost 70 people into the scheme and caused the pharmacy benefits administrator to pay out more than $7 million for medically unnecessary compound prescription medications. Sher directly received approximately $115,000 from the scheme. At today’s sentencing, Judge Kugler likewise found that Sher obstructed justice when he lied during his trial testimony and when he attempted to tamper with witnesses and devise a cover-up story in advance of trial.
Broccoli caused the pharmacy benefits administrator to pay out millions of dollars for medically unnecessary compound prescription medications for individuals he recruited into the scheme and directly received $150,315.
To date, 50 people have been charged in the overarching conspiracy, and 46 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial.
Attorney for the United States Khanna credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to the sentencings.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina O. Hud of the Criminal Division and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division Desiree L. Grace. (more…)
The Ocean City Tabernacle welcomes American Ninja Warrior champion Daniel Gil to speak at the 8:30 a.m. traditional and 10:30 a.m. contemporary services on Sunday, July 16. Gil is a professional ninja athlete, the 2020 World Champion, and a five-time Read more…
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – Despite the cancellation of the Seashore Gardens Foundation Golf Tour that was scheduled to be held June 21 at Egg Harbor Pines in Egg Harbor Township due to the rainy weather, supporters and volunteers rallied for the cause Read more…