File Photo
Village Stardrugs Inc. was located in South Richmond Hill.
By Forum Staff
The owner and operator of five borough pharmacies was recently sentenced to 78 months in prison for carrying out multiple schemes to defraud health care programs, including obtaining more than $6.5 million from Medicare Part D plans and Medicaid drug plans, federal prosecutors announced.
Aleah “Abby” Mohammed, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, one count of health care fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in April 2021.
Photo Courtesy of Google
Mohammed used to run Superdrugs I Inc. out of the storefront to the left of this Allstate branch on Liberty Avenue.
According to court documents, Mohammed was an owner and operator of five pharmacies: Superdrugs Inc., Superdrugs I Inc., Superdrugs II Inc., S&A Superdrugs II Inc. and Village Stardrugs Inc. Between 2015 and 2020, Mohammed utilized these pharmacies to engage in schemes that defrauded health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, by submitting claims for prescription drugs that were not dispensed, not prescribed as claimed, not medically necessary, or that were purportedly dispensed during a time when the pharmacy was no longer registered with the State of New York. The fraudulent claims included claims for expensive prescription drugs for the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Mohammed and her family used proceeds of the scheme to purchase luxury items such as a Cadillac Escalade SUV, a Mercedes Benz sedan, a Porsche Turbo coupe, as well as jewelry and property in Queens and Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania.
“Through the Superdrugs Pharmacies that she owned and operated, the defendant was dispensing phantom prescriptions for fraud, stealing millions of dollars from the Medicare and Medicaid programs by submitting false claims for reimbursement,” said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. “Today’s sentence demonstrates there are consequences for those who choose to finance lavish lifestyles by diverting government resources from health care programs intended to help those truly in need.”
