Fultondale Doctor, Demopolis Pharmacist, Tuscaloosa Sales Representative Sentenced in Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Tuscaloosa pharmaceutical sales representative was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in a scheme designed to fraudulently bill health insurance plans, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie C. Axon sentenced Brett Taft, 47, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., to 12 months in prison and 6 months of home detention and ordered him to pay a fine of $1,000 and restitution of approximately $2.2 million. Taft was the owner and sole member of the sales company BTAFT Medical, LLC. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud related to a June 2019 Superseding Indictment involving Paul Roberts, M.D., of Fultondale, and pharmacist Stanley Reeves of Demopolis.

“This case is another unfortunate example of some in the medical field putting greed over patients’ welfare,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona.  “We thank the many medical professionals who place patient health and ethical integrity first and will continue to prosecute those who instead choose to engage in criminal conduct for financial gain.”

“The FBI and our partners will continue to work tirelessly to ensure public and private health care dollars are used as intended, to promote the health and safety of all Americans and safeguard continued access to critical health care services,” FBI SAC Sharp said. 

News article: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndal/pr/fultondale-doctor-demopolis-pharmacist-tuscaloosa-sales-representative-sentenced-health