Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Months for Defrauding New Jersey Health Benefits Programs

Robert Bessey was ordered to pay $2.69 million in restitution for participating in a healthcare fraud scheme that targeted teachers, firefighters, and police officers among other state employees.

A Philadelphia resident, Robert Bessey, 49, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for defrauding New Jersey state health benefits programs out of $2.69 million. The sentencing was announced by Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna and took place in Camden federal court.

Robert Bessey, 49, of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to prison for his role in a large-scale healthcare fraud. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler.

Bessey was involved in a conspiracy that defrauded New Jersey's state health benefits programs and other insurers by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions. Bessey was charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.

The fraudulent activities took place from January 2015 through April 2016. Bessey was sentenced on September 7. The sentencing took place in Camden federal court, although the fraudulent activities affected individuals and organizations across New Jersey.

Bessey, acting as a recruiter in the conspiracy, persuaded individuals, including public employees like teachers, firefighters, and police officers in New Jersey, to obtain expensive and medically unnecessary medications. These were mostly compounded medications like pain, scar, antifungal, and libido creams, as well as certain expensive vitamin combinations.

The pharmacy benefits administrator in question managed the prescription drug benefits for various New Jersey state and local government employees. The conspirators targeted individuals covered by this administrator to fraudulently obtain these medications without medical necessity.

In addition to the prison term, Bessey has been sentenced to two years of supervised release and is ordered to forfeit $485,540 and pay restitution of $2.69 million.

Law Enforcement Involvement

The investigation that led to the sentencing was a collective effort involving special agents from the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, the IRS – Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, New York Region.

The sentencing of Robert Bessey serves as a significant move in cracking down on healthcare fraud that targets public employees in New Jersey. The case reveals the vulnerabilities in the healthcare benefits system and underscores the need for stringent oversight to protect both the state’s financial resources and the well-being of its public employees.