A Fort Worth pharmacy co-owner, Richard Hall, 53, has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison for his role in a fraudulent scheme involving illegal kickbacks and money laundering, announced federal officials.

The Scheme and Convictions

Court documents and evidence presented during the trial revealed that Hall collaborated with others to develop and promote compounded medications tailored to individual patient needs. These medications, which are custom-tailored, were marketed through deceptive means, including the payment of unlawful kickbacks to recruit local doctors to prescribe them.

Hall was found guilty by a federal jury in the Northern District of Texas on four counts of paying and receiving illegal kickbacks and one count of conspiring to launder money. His co-conspirators included Scott Schuster, Dustin Rall, George Lock Paret, all of Fort Worth, Johnathan Le of Dallas, and Quintan Cockerell of California.

Involvement of Co-Conspirators

In 2020, federal officials announced charges against Hall and his co-conspirators. Cockerell, a medical marketer from California, was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States, receiving kickbacks, and money laundering in October 2023. Two other co-defendants, Turner Luke Zeutzius and Michael Ranelle, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to defrauding the United States and paying and receiving kickbacks.

Details of the Scheme

The indictment outlined that from May 2014 to September 2016, Hall and his associates engaged in a scheme to pay kickbacks and bribes for the referral of TRICARE and U.S. Department of Labor beneficiaries to obtain compound drugs. Hall, Schuster, Rall, and Paret were co-owners of Rxpress Pharmacy and Xpress Compounding, both located in Fort Worth.

Disguised Payments

The indictment further revealed that the pharmacies utilized the same marketers but paid them differently based on whether the prescriptions were federal or private, aiming to conceal the illegal kickback payments on federal prescriptions.

Misuse of Scheme Proceeds

Proceeds from the fraudulent scheme were allegedly used by Hall, Schuster, Rall, and Cockerell to purchase luxury vehicles, charter vessels, and other properties for themselves and others.

Conclusion: Justice Served

The sentencing of Richard Hall and the convictions of his co-conspirators mark significant steps in combating healthcare fraud. Such schemes not only defraud government programs but also compromise patient care and trust. Federal agencies continue their vigilance in prosecuting individuals and entities involved in healthcare fraud, ensuring accountability and safeguarding the integrity of the healthcare system.

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