A former Kentucky state Representative has pled guilty in federal court to healthcare fraud and other financial crimes.
Robert Goforth, 46, of East Bernstadt, admitted to billing Medicare and Medicaid and other insurance programs for prescriptions customers failed to pick up at a Clay County pharmacy he owned, according to media reports.
The medication was placed back into inventory and resold.
The pharmacist, who was not named in court documents, received a percentage of the business’ profits, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
In his plea agreement, Goforth admitted to overbilling insurance providers $2.7 million at the Manchester pharmacy. Nearly $1.4 million of the overbilling occurred after he was informed by a state pharmacy inspector that overbilling was taking place.
“I knew that it was wrong and I’m here to own up to that and take responsibility for my actions,” Goforth said in U.S. District Court in London.
Goforth pled guilty to healthcare fraud and a money laundering charge. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. He will be sentenced in September.
He sold the business, Hometown Pharmacy, in 2016.
He was indicted for first-degree strangulation, fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and third-degree terroristic threatening. That case is still pending.
Goforth was first elected to the Kentucky House in 2018. He ran unsuccessfully in the gubernatorial primary against then-incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin in 2019.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
