Mitchell Spivack, 63, of Collegeville, former owner of Verree Pharmacy, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $451,328 restitution and to forfeit $116,000 by U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and healthcare fraud.
In June, the defendant pleaded guilty to a Criminal Information charging him with these offenses.
In August, Spivack agreed to pay more than $4.1 million to resolve civil liability under the Controlled Substances Act, False Claims Act and forfeiture, according to U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero. Romero said the payment resolved allegations that the pharmacy engaged in a years-long practice of illegally dispensing opioids and other controlled substances, and systematic health care fraud. The judgment also permanently bans Spivack from dispensing controlled substances in the future.
If the public has any information regarding Verree Pharmacy or any other health care fraud allegation, individuals should contact the HHS-OIG hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS.
Verree Pharmacy, 7960 Verree Road in Fox Chase, operated as a small neighborhood pharmacy for more than 30 years.
