Tampa Pharmacist Swallows Bitter Pill; Arrested on Fraud, Identity Theft Charges

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist announced the arrest of a Tampa pharmacist for allegedly billing Medicaid for more than $12,000 in services he did not render. Atul C. Patel, 42, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit organized fraud and one count of identity theft.

An investigation by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit reportedly revealed that Patel fraudulently used the names and Medicaid numbers of Medicaid recipients in order to bill the program for more than $12,000 in prescription medication that was never received by the recipients.

If convicted of the charges, Patel faces a maximum of 45 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.