TEXAS
A federal jury found a pharmacist guilty Tuesday of charges related to health care fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
After a six-day trial, George Phillip Tompkins, 75, of Houston, was convicted on all charges – one count each of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering as well as 11 counts of health care fraud and three counts of wire fraud.
According to evidence, Tompkins and others billed the federal government approximately $21.8 million for medically unnecessary compound gels and creams that were predicated on illegal kickback payments.
The jury heard that Tompkins and Anoop Chaturvedi, 48, a legal permanent resident from India, created a scheme to generate compounded pain cream prescriptions and bill health care programs for injured state and federal employees.
As part of the scheme, Tompkins and Chaturvedi created a separate entity – Wellington Advisors – to receive the program money from the Department of Labor (DOL) – Office of Workers Compensation Programs and Federal Employees Compensation Act.
The evidence showed that Tompkins sought to disguise illicit kickback payments as legitimate “marketing” expenses and continued to ship patients compound gels and creams even after patients repeatedly complained they did not want them.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake set sentencing for May 27.
Tompkins’ wife Marene Kathryn Tompkins, 68, of Houston, plead guilty in January 2020 to one count of conspiracy to pay kickbacks and is also awaiting sentencing.
Chaturvedi is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest in connection with the charges, according to officials. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.