Pharmacist convicted in $20m healthcare kickback scheme

A US jury convicted Tronown Thomas, owner of Rayford ACP Pharmacy, of conspiring to pay healthcare kickbacks. The DOJ said he paid more than $2m to a Houston clinic owner for referrals of patients prescribed high-reimbursement compounded medicines, generating more than $20m in DOL-OWCP reimbursements between 2015 and 2017.

Thomas argued the payments were for legitimate marketing services, but the jury rejected that defence. Sentencing is pending; he faces up to five years’ imprisonment and a possible fine of up to $250,000.