Owner Of Pharmacies In Pensacola And Jay Sentenced In $4.8 Million Federal Fraud Case
May 14, 2021
The owner of a former Escambia County compounding pharmacy that later purchased and involved Jay Pharmacy in the scheme has been sentenced to federal prison in a $4.8 million federal fraud and money laundering conspiracy case.
Andrew E. Fisher, 35, of Gulf Breeze, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after a jury found him guilty last year of conspiring to use his pharmacy to defraud TRICARE, a federal health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families, and conspiring to launder the funds generated by the fraud. Fisher was also ordered to pay over $4.8 million in restitution to TRICARE and forfeit an over $3.8 million money judgment sentence was announced today by Jason R. Coody, acting United States attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Between October 2014 and December 2015, Fisher, the owner and operator of Physician Specialty Pharmacy (PSP) in Pensacola, conspired with sales representative Michael Scott Burton and others to defraud TRICARE out of more than $4.8 million in fraudulent claims for prescription compounded pain cream, scar cream, and wellness vitamins.
During the conspiracy, Fisher also purchased Jay Pharmacy in Jay, and used its existing insurance contracts with TRICARE and others to bill for fraudulent PSP prescriptions. NorthEscambia.com was there when the Jay Pharmacy was raided in February 2016.
Fisher agreed to fill prescriptions at PSP from a doctor’s office in Georgia whose beneficiary information was provided by Burton and individuals working for him, knowing that these particular beneficiaries had never seen that doctor and the prescriptions were not based on a legitimate doctor-patient relationship. In exchange for recruiting TRICARE beneficiaries to receive the prescriptions, Burton received approximately 50% of the amount paid to Fisher in insurance reimbursements. Those commission payments were laundered in the form of large wire transfers and direct deposits into Burton’s bank account in Georgia.
As part of the scheme, Fisher, who is not a licensed pharmacist, directed his pharmacist employees to use ingredient formulations for the drugs that would maximize the amount his pharmacy could bill to TRICARE — which was upward of $10,000 to $17,000 per medication at the time — and other insurance companies without considering what was best for patient care. Fisher also directed Burton and his employees to tell beneficiaries not to worry about co-payments, in order to ensure that the beneficiaries would not decline receiving the medications over out-of-pocket cost. Because PSP was not a TRICARE network pharmacy, Fisher paid Burklow Pharmacy in Pace a commission
of approximately 15% to allow PSP to bill TRICARE using Burklow’s network provider contract for prescriptions received, filled, and shipped at PSP, including ones Fisher knew were fraudulent.
Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes prosecuted the case following a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Financial Services-Bureau of Insurance Fraud, Florida Department of Health, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Army Criminal Investigative Command.
Pictured: State and federal agencies raided the Jay Pharmacy in February 2016. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged In Cantonment Shooting Death Appears In Video Court
May 14, 2021
A woman charged in the murder of her daughter’s boyfriend appeared in video court Thursday.
Prosecutors said Dawn Lucille Sluder conspired to have 35-year old Danny Blackmon, Jr. killed.
It was set to be a bond hearing before Judge Jan Shackelford, but Sluder’s attorney and prosecutors agreed to postpone the hearing. A new date has not been set.
Sluder and her co-defendant Jonathan Taylor Hobbs remain in jail without bond.
Hobbs was indicted on one count of first degree premeditated murder with a firearm, and Sluder was indicted on one count of first degree premeditated murder.
Danny Blackmon, Jr., 35, was shot and killed as his 19-year old girlfriend, who is Sluder’s daughter, watched in horror, according to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons.
On February 1, investigators found Blackmon deceased with numerous gunshot wounds, including two on his upper torso, one in his neck and at least two in his head. After Blackmon fell to the ground, Hobbs reportedly leaned over his body and fired at least two more rounds before running away. Blackmon’s girlfriend witnessed the entire incident and attempted to perform CPR until she beaten and pulled away by her hair by Dawn Sluder, an arrest report states.
Sluder was apprehended at a convenience store on Muscogee Road near Jacks Branch Road. There was extensive damage to her SUV (pictured below) consistent with having collided with the Ford F-150 as stated by the witness. Hobbs walked up to a resident on Country Hills Road and asked to use the phone. The resident called 911, and deputies responded to take Hobbs into custody without further incident.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The Big Fill: Krul Lake Is Now Filling Up
May 14, 2021
Here’s another update on the big refill of Krul Lake in the Blackwater State Forest.
After repairs to the drain pipe system and retaining wall, as well as upgrades and basic maintenance, Florida Forest Service personnel have closed the spillway at Krul Recreation Area and the lake is beginning to refill.
Officials say it will take 7-10 days to fill the lake, but recent rains may have expedited the process.
Krul Lake is filled from springs located on the north end of the lake and is popular summer swimming area. The Krul Recreation area, located about a half mile east of Munson, also features restrooms and showers, hiking trails, a gristmill, a suspension bridge over Sweetwater Creek, and a picnic area.
Pictured above and below show the lake refilling. The very bottom photo shows the empty lake. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Softball Wins Regional Championship; Northview Baseball Falls To Holmes County In Eight
May 14, 2021
SOFTBALL
Jay 10, Holmes County 0
The Jay Lady Royals are Region 1-1A champions and are in the state final four after beating Holmes County 10-0 in Bonifay Thursday night.
Mattie Cochran tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing one hit, two walks and striking out seven.
The Royals had two home runs. Cochran and Caitlyn Gavin both homered in the fourth.
Gavin went 2-3 with two runs and five RBIs. Brett Watson at 3-5 with three runs; Alayna Lowery was 2-4 with one run and one RBI; Mattie Cochran was 2-3 with one run and one RBI; Ella Nelson was 1-3 with a run; and Kassidy Nevels was 1-4 with a run.
Jay moves one to the state semifinals on May 18 against Wewahitchka. The winner will face either Branford or Trenton on May 19 for the state championship.
BASEBALL
Holmes County 3, Northview 2 (8 innings)
Holmes County defeated Northview 3-2 in the Region 1-1A championship Thursday night in Bonifay.
The game was 2-2 at the end of seven and moved into extra innings. Holmes County walked off with the win after Cody Jones singled on a 2-2 count, driving in the winning run.
For Northview Jamarkus Jefferson allowed four hits and one run over five and a third innings while striking out four. Josh Landis threw one and two-thirds innings in relief. allowing four hits, two runs, two walks and striking out two.
Jefferson went 2-3 for the Chiefs. Bryce Korinchak was 1-3; Rustin Pope was 1-3 with an RBI; and Landis was 1-3 with a run.
The Chief’s season ended at 17-7. Northview entered regionals as District champions for the first time since 2015.
Blue Wahoos Lose 16-6 to Barons On Mullets Thursday
May 14, 2021
The first Pensacola Mullets Night in franchise history attracted the week’s largest crowd, so far, but not the desired scoreboard totals.
Birmingham unleashed a 15-hit attack, highlighted by four 3-run homers in a 16-6 victory Thursday night, before 3,689 fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With Pensacola players wearing colorful teal jerseys with fuchsia/teal hats and popular Mullets logo, the first-ever promotion created a pregame energy, following months-long popularity on social media.
The concept was decided earlier this year as a nod to the runner-up nickname when fans chose Blue Wahoos when the franchise launched in 2012.
A 3-year-old boy who won the best-looking mullet contest among public voting was joined by his parents and family members on the field to help throw out the “First Fish.” His father and mother did the honors to the crowd’s delight.
The game started well, too.
Pensacola answered the Barons’ first run to take a 2-1 lead in the first inning on Peyton Burdick’s RBI double and a throwing error allowing Burdick to come around and score on the play.
In fact, Pensacola had four runs on two hits in the first four innings.
The Barons, however, bashed their way to a 5-run second inning and added four more runs in the third.
Five Pensacola players had one hit apiece.
Pensacola starter Brandon Leibrandt had a tough outing. The hot-hitting Barons produced their first 10 runs off him in his three innings of work.
The Blue Wahoos will be back on Friday night with Jeff Lindgren (0-1) on the mound against Konnor Pilkington (1-0). The Mullets Night will return next Thursday against the newest division member, Rocket City Trash Pandas. Each Thursday home game throughout the season, Pensacola will wear the Mullets-theme uniforms.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos Senior Writer
Escaped Chickens Cause Traffic Problems On I-10. And Yes, Many Of Them Did Cross The Road.
May 13, 2021
Escaped chickens caused big traffic problems on I-10 near Pine Forest Road midday Thursday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a commercial vehicle pulling a trailer came to an abrupt stop due to traffic, and multiple cage doors opened. FHP says about 100 chicken escaped onto the interstate.
The driver flew the coop, leaving the chickens behind. That tied up traffic as some of chickens crossed the road for unknown reasons.
FHP troopers and Escambia County Animal Control rounded up most of the chickens, and troopers are working to identify the driver.
Foul play is not suspected.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Photos Show Severity Of Deputy Involved Crash; He Was Treated And Released
May 13, 2021
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy involved in a wreck Wednesday night is recovering, and we are getting a closer look at the severity of the crash in new photos.
The deputy was treated and released from a local hospital, according to ECSO Commander Andrew Hobbs.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 73-year old male SUV driver pulled out from the median into the southbound lanes about 8:40 p.m. He failed to observe oncoming traffic, troopers said, and was hit by a sedan driven by a 30-year old man. As a result of the crash, the sedan crossed over the median into the northbound lanes into the side of a marked Escambia County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.
One of the passenger vehicles then hit a nearby Fact-O-Bake building.
The driver and passenger in the second vehicle were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS for treatment of minor injuries.
FHP has not said if the 73-year old will face any charges.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Tops 100,000 Vaccinated People
May 13, 2021
Escambia County has now topped 100,000 people that have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
As of Wednesday, there are 101,257 total people vaccinated in Escambia County — about one-third of eligible residents.
There are 21,031 people that have received only the first dose, and 80,226 that are fully vaccinated. Of those, 7,807 received the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine, and 72,419 received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Man Gets Nine Years In Prison For High Speed Chase On I-10 That Injured Two Florida Troopers
May 13, 2021
A Tennessee man has been sentenced to state prison in connection with a high-speed chase last year that sent two Florida Highway Patrol troopers to the hospital after their patrol cars crashed into each other.
John Thomas Puckett of Dresden, Tennessee, was sentenced to nine years in prison followed by six years of probation for aggravated fleeing and eluding causing serious bodily injury, DUI causing property damage, driving without a valid license and battery on an EMT/paramedic.
The charges stemmed from a May 12, 2020, chase. Puckett led the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office on a high-speed chase in a vehicle stolen in Mobile.
Puckett crossed into Florida on I-10 at over 100 miles an hour. During the chase, he passed numerous cars in a reckless manner, passing at times on the shoulder of the interstate. At the time, Florida had a COVID-19 checkpoint at the weigh station entering the state.
Puckett drove over the traffic cones to pass the checkpoint at high speed and ultimately crashed near the Nine Mile Road exit. After Puckett was taken into custody, it became apparent that he was under the influence of controlled substances. While receiving medical attention at the scene, he became violent toward the EMT treating him and spit on her.
Two Florida Highway Patrol troopers received serious injuries during a collision which occurred during the chase. As a FHP sergeant attempted to join the pursuit, he collided with another trooper.
Ultimately, blood work revealed that he was under the influence of methamphetamine and marijuana.
Three years of the sentence are to be served as a mandatory minimum prison sentence.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Bird Watching Bingo Activity Kits Available At Century Branch Library
May 13, 2021
The Century Branch Library has free “Bird Watch Bingo” take home activity kits available now.
With the bird watching kit, look into the world around you for local birds and check them off your bingo card as you identify different species.