Pharmacist, assistant sentenced for fraud, conspiracy

A Florida pharmacist and his employee were sentenced Friday for their involvement in a $30 million health care fraud scheme that targeted a health care program for military service members, veterans and their families.

In September, a federal jury found Serge Francois, 52, and Patrick Tonge, 42, both of Southwest Ranches, Florida, guilty of several fraud and conspiracy charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

Mr. Francois, a pharmacist, owned and operated Pompano Beach, Florida-based Atlantic Pharmacy and Compounding. Mr. Francois and his assistant, Mr. Tonge, were involved in a conspiracy with “marketers” who paid physicians to write prescriptions for expensive topical medications, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Mr. Francois was sentenced to 204 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution. Mr. Tonge was sentenced to 188 months in prison and also ordered to pay restitution, according to the statement.