BLACK: Meet Shalondria Simpson of TruCare Pharmacy in Downtown Houston - $170M TWINS BEEZ WONDERFUL AT BIZZNEZZ

[Arheel's Uncle]

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voyagehouston.com

October 15, 2019

Meet Shalondria Simpson of TruCare Pharmacy in Downtown Houston​

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalondria Simpson.
Shalondria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a pharmacist, I’ve always wanted to branch out on my own and become a POWERFUL entrepreneur. I opened my first pharmacy in 2015 and with our success, I was able to open our second location in 2017. TruCare is a labor of love. We wanted to target the downtown market and offer a wider range of services. We quickly secured a contract with St. Joseph’s Medical Center and have been flourishing ever since.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No path is ever smooth. With the highs and lows that come with pharmacy it’s important to continue to reinvent your business to stay ahead of the curve. Some days are slow and some days you are completely slammed. Maintaining personnel that understands that business will fluctuate is vital. We need our team to be able to hustle when the going gets tough and also ensure all loose ends are cleaned up during slow seasons. With a small business, we try to make sure we hire team members whose vision is to see the business flourish.
Please tell us about TruCare Pharmacy.
TruCare Pharmacy is a full-service pharmacy. We accept most insurance plans, offer a free delivery app, $4 generics and much more.
We recently launched our own CBD line, TruRx Premium CBD. Being pharmacists allows us to be more knowledgeable about how CBD affects the body and we are always excited to offer alternative therapies to our patients. Our CBD products include a CBD drops. CBD muscle & joint freeze roll-on, CBD warming salve, CBD gummies, CBD face masks, and CBD soft gels. Our products are available in our pharmacy and we also offer wholesale options.
TruCare Pharmacy also offers a free delivery app which allows you to select your delivery time. Prescriptions can be delivered the same day and this service is FREE. We also offer curbside pick-up and video consultations with our pharmacist so you never have to step foot inside the pharmacy again.
We have a team to handle all your Specialty Medication needs. This includes HIV/AIDS, PrEP, Multiple Sclerosis, Hepatitis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. All insurance claims are handled quickly and we deliver your medications for free.
We pride ourselves in “Valuing Patients as Family” and we strive to make your life easier in the process.
Pricing:

• $4 generics
• Free Delivery App

Contact Info:

• Address: 2000 Crawford Suite 105
  Houston, Texas 77002
• Website: www.trucarepharmacy.net
• Phone: 3469805828
• Email: info@trucarepharmacy.net
• Instagram: trucarepharmacy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com

 

[Arheel's Uncle]

SHE BEEZ WONDERFUL AT BIZZNEZZ

Physician and two pharmacists charged for $170M fraud scheme

A 13-count indictment was unsealed today charging two pharmacists and a physician for their roles in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud, kickback and money laundering scheme.

www.justice.gov

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Physician and two pharmacists charged for $170M fraud scheme​

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas

HOUSTON - A 13-count indictment was unsealed today charging two pharmacists and a physician for their roles in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud, kickback and money laundering scheme.
A federal grand jury in Houston returned the 13-count indictment Sept. 7, which was unsealed today.

According to court documents, Shalondria Simpson, 45, Houston, is a pharmacist who owned and operated two pharmacies in Houston: Advance Pharmacy and TruCare Pharmacy. Simpson’s twin sister, physician Lashondria Simpson-Camp, 45, Allen, allegedly referred prescriptions to Advance and TruCare in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes. Shayla Bryant, 38, Houston, was a pharmacist and Advance and TruCare’s business manager.

Between 2016 and 2022, Simpson, Simpson-Camp and Bryant allegedly conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent claims to the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (DOL-OWCP) for high reimbursing drugs that were often medically unnecessary and induced by kickbacks and bribes. DOL-OWCP administers workers’ compensation benefits on behalf of the Federal Employee’s Compensation Act (FECA),

Further, Simpson, Simpson-Camp, Bryant and others allegedly conspired to pay and receive these kickbacks. Simpson and Bryan allegedly paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, often through shell entities or in cash, directly to physicians like Simpson-Camp, a clinic owner, a medical assistant and other marketers. In total, Simpson’s pharmacies allegedly submitted approximately $170 million in fraudulent claims to FECA through DOL-OWCP.

To conceal the scheme and disguise its proceeds, Simpson also allegedly conspired to launder the proceeds of the criminal activity through financial transactions greater than $10,000. According to the indictment, after learning of the investigation, Simpson attempted to cover her tracks by converting criminal proceeds to cash and transferring funds among over 10 bank accounts and a cryptocurrency wallet. She also allegedly solicited others’ help in liquidating assets and concealing her ownership and control of those assets.

The indictment charges Simpson, Simpson-Camp and Bryant with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Simpson is also charged with five counts of paying health care kickbacks, one of which also charges Bryant. The indictment further charges Simpson with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and five counts of money laundering. If convicted, Simpson, Simpson-Campq and Bryant each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks as well as 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Simpson and Bryant each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of paying health care kickbacks. Simpson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to launder money instruments and 10 years for each count of money laundering.

The U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, FBI and Veterans Affairs – OIG conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fyffe and Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes.

More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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[Arheel's Uncle]

Shalondria Simpson, 45,

Simpson’s twin sister, physician Lashondria Simpson-Camp, 45

Sisters are doing it for themselves
Standing on their own two feet
And ringing on their own bells
Sisters are doing it for themselves

Eurythmics (Ft. Aretha Franklin) – Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves

“Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves” is a duet by Aretha Franklin and Eurythmics. The song peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on Billboard’s dance music chart. It

genius.com

WAY TO GO SISTAS

PRISON

 

[Arheel's Uncle]

Between 2016 and 2022, Simpson, Simpson-Camp and Bryant allegedly conspired

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-healthcare-fraud-pharmacist-18391702.php

Houston pharmacists, doctor charged for $170m fraud and kickback scheme​

The pharmacists allegedly conspired with a Houston physician in a $170 million healthcare fraud, kickback, and money laundering scheme.​

By Michael MurneyUpdated Sep 27, 2023 10:54 a.m.



The pharmacists allegedly conspired with a Houston physician to defraud the Department of Labor out of $170 million and launder the money through shell companies and cryptocurrency.
krisanapong detraphiphat/Getty Images
A Houston physician and two pharmacists have been indicted for an alleged $170 million healthcare fraud and money laundering scheme.

The 13-count indictment returned by a Houston federal grand jury on Sep. 7 was unsealed Wednesday, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Texas. Per court documents, Houston pharmacist Shalondria Simpson, 45, orchestrated the conspiracy with her twin sister, Dallas-area physician Lashondria Simpson-Camp and Houston pharmacist Shayla Bryant.

"Between 2016 and 2022, Simpson, Simpson-Camp and Bryant allegedly conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent claims to the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (DOL-OWCP) for high reimbursing drugs that were often medically unnecessary and induced by kickbacks and bribes," U.S. Attorney's Office officials said in Wednesday's release.

Per court documents, Simpson, Simpson-Camp and Bryant allegedly paid the illegal kickbacks through shell companies or in direct cash payments to physicians, a medical assistant and other marketers. Between 2016 and 2022, Simpson's Advance Pharmacy and TruCare Pharmacy in Houston submitted about $170 million in fraudulent claims to the Department of Labor's Workers' Compensation Program.

Authorities allege in court documents that Simpson also attempted to launder the illegal payouts by spreading the funds among 10 bank accounts and a cryptocurrency wallet after learning about the federal investigation into her and her alleged conspirators.

Simpson, Simpson-Camp and Bryant are each facing one charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive healthcare kickbacks and one charge of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Simpson and Bryant both face multiple additional counts related to paying out the kickbacks and alleged money laundering. Each face between five- and 20-year maximum sentences depending on their charges.

 

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www.chron.com

Houston power couple among others sentenced in $126 million fraud scheme​

A group of Houston pharmacy owners and Texas physicians were sentenced for a years long scheme to defraud a program designed to assist injured U.S. service workers.​

By Michael Murney
Oct 18, 2023



A group of Houston pharmacy owners and Texas physicians were sentenced for a yearslong scheme to defraud a program designed to assist injured service members.

Nine people, including a well-known Houston couple, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a years long, multi-state fraud scheme that allegedly stole around $126 million from a program aimed at assisting injured U.S. service members.

52-year-old John Cruise and 50-year-old LaShonia Johnson, owners of the popular Phil & Derek's Jazz Lounge & Restaurant in Houston, were sentenced to 20 and 15 years in prison respectively, according to a release from the Department of Justice's Office of Public Affairs. Cruise and Johnson were both former co-owners of Assurance Consolidated Pharmacy in Spring, Texas.

Houston resident Kenny Ozoude, 48, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and Nirvana Hightower, 56, also of Houston, was sentenced to five years in prison. Ozuode is a former owner of Compounding Solutions LLC, a Houston-based company; Hightower is the former pharmacist-in-charge at Compounding Solutions LLC.

The Houston defendants, alongside five others, were convicted of sending fraudulent claims for reimbursement to the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) and TRICARE, the health care program for U.S. service members and their families. From 2014 to 2018, members of the fraud ring submitted around $126 million in false claims for "compounded and other drugs prescribed to injured federal workers and members of the armed forces," per the Department of Justice. They also "paid kickbacks to patient recruiters and physicians to prescribe these drugs," according to the DOJ.

The remaining five defendants, four of whom are also Texas residents, were sentenced to between 18 months and five years in prison. Four additional defendants are scheduled for sentencing on May 25, per the DOJ.

 

[Arheel's Uncle]

52-year-old John Cruise and 50-year-old LaShonia Johnson, owners of the popular Phil & Derek's Jazz Lounge & Restaurant in Houston,

'Hate to See It': Houston Power Couple Sentenced to a Combined 35 Years In Federal Workman’s Comp Fraud Scheme

A Houston power couple has been sentenced to a combined 35 years in federal prison after being convicted of fraud. Now, one of the businesses that the duo

atlantablackstar.com

‘Hate to See It’: Houston Power Couple Sentenced to a Combined 35 Years In Federal Workman’s Comp Fraud Scheme​

Posted byBy Nicole Duncan-Smith | Published on: October 17, 2023 CommentsComments (0)


A Houston power couple has been sentenced to a combined 35 years in federal prison after being convicted of fraud.
Now, one of the businesses that the duo once owned is fighting to divorce its good name from its headline-grabbing scandal
John Cruise and his wife, LaShonia Johnson, once jointly owned both the Phil & Derek’s Restaurant and Jazz Lounge and the Assurance Consolidated Pharmacy. The husband also owned the Injured Federal Workers Advocate Association (IFWAA). When the couple went down for running a scam through two of the businesses, the eatery, which had been a popular destination for African-Americans in the city, experienced struggle and had to assume new ownership.

John Cruise and LaShonia Johnson (Photos: Pinterest/Pharris Photos and Philms)
Conspiracy
Cruise and Johnson conspired with 11 other people in a complicated scheme to defraud the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (DOL-OWCP) and TRICARE, a health care program for military personnel, by recruiting injured federal workers and claimants to join IFWAA in return for complimentary support in their workers’ compensation claims.

The group siphoned almost $126 million in this effort.


The operation included one additional pharmacy owner, a physician, two pharmacists, and three patient recruiters. Four other defendants also were named by the Justice Department.


According to a press release from the Justice Department, “The defendants submitted false and fraudulent claims to the OWCP and TRICARE for prescriptions for compounded and other drugs prescribed to injured federal workers and members of the armed forces.”


“The defendants also paid kickbacks to patient recruiters and physicians to prescribe these drugs. The defendants chose the particular compounds and other drugs based not on the patients’ medical needs but in light of the amount of reimbursement for the drugs,” the statement added. “The drugs were then mailed to patients, even though the patients often never requested, wanted, or needed them.”


According to a newsletter from the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor, the operation overlapped multiple states from 2014 to 2018.


Cruise and Johnson were hit with the hardest sentences for their significant involvement in the scheme. Cruise received a 20-year prison term and was ordered to pay around $32 million in restitution. His wife, Johnson, was sentenced to 15 years and also required to pay $32 million in restitution, mirroring her husband’s penalty.


Many people took to social media to comment on the couple’s fate.

“One thing for certain, two things for sure. The feds gone catch up to you every time!” one social media user wrote.

“Hate to see it” and “Being a scammer ain’t worth it,” others said.

“This is completely sad, however, folks without melanin have been doing ish like this for years! I don’t respect anyone that has to abuse someone’s healthcare but we seem to get stiffer punishments,” wrote another.

Phil & Derek’s also launched a new campaign with the new owner.