N.J. doctor admits writing phony prescriptions in $5M scheme

A New Jersey doctor has admitted to writing fraudulent prescriptions for which he received about $5 million in insurance payments, U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna said.

Brian Sokalsky, 44, of Margate, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit healthcare fraud after he was charged in a 33-count indictment in June 2020 along with his conspirators, prosecutors said.

Vincent Tornari, 49, of Linwood, a pharmaceutical sales representative, pleaded guilty earlier this month and Ashley Lyons-Valenti, 66, of Swedesboro, a former advanced nurse practitioner, pleaded guilty in February, officials said.

The trio planned a scheme to prescribe compound medications, which are specially mixed by a pharmacist to meet specific medical needs and are often reimbursed for thousands of dollars for a one-month supply, according to court documents.

These medications are not approved by the FDA, but doctors can legally prescribe them when FDA-approved drugs do not meet a patient’s needs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Sokalsky authorized these types of prescriptions for former pharmaceutical sales representative Matthew Tedesco, 47, of Linwood, and in exchange, Tedesco referred about 30 patients to his new medical practice, court documents said. Sokalsky also wrote prescriptions for existing patients to financially benefit Tedesco and encourage him to refer more patients to his office, authorities said.

Tedesco pleaded guilty to health care fraud conspiracy in June 2017, according to court documents.

The doctor wrote unnecessary prescriptions including libido creams for young females and excessive quantities of drugs, prosecutors said.

When insurance stopped covering certain prescriptions, Tedesco told him to write new ones, according to court documents. The doctor often wrote the new prescription without informing the patient of the change or seeing them for a follow-up, officials said.

Sokalsky’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.