Attorney General's News Release

April 13, 2001

Pharmacist charged with 22 counts of Medicaid fraud on grand jury indictment

Kansas City, Mo. — A Kansas City pharmacist was charged today with 22 felony counts of Medicaid fraud that allege he billed the Missouri Medicaid program for drugs that were never dispensed or prescribed. The indictment was handed down by a Jackson County grand jury at the request of Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon and Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Bob Beaird; the Kansas City Police Department also assisted with the investigation.

The indictment charges that, between May 2000 and February 2001, Louie A. Ferro Jr. (DOB - 4/5/52) provided false statements to the Medicaid program in order to receive payments. Ferro, who lives in Independence, owns and operates the Penn Park Pharmacy, located at 2929 Baltimore in Kansas City.

Ferro allegedly made misrepresentations to the Medicaid program that on 22 occasions he had dispensed the prescription drugs Diflucan, Lorabid, Risperdal and Zyprexa to patients when, in fact, he had not dispensed them.

The crime of making a false statement to receive a health care payment is a class D felony under Missouri law, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. As in all criminal cases, the charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818