Pharmacist and Co-Owner Arrested for Healthcare Fraud Scheme Involving Millions of Dollars

A Clinton pharmacist named Michael Shawn Boaz was arrested on Wednesday morning and is set to appear in federal court later that same day as part of an ongoing investigation. Boaz, who owns Clinton Pharmacy, was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service, and court documents reveal that he was charged alongside Christopher Clayton Augustus, who owns Bardwell Pharmacy.

The grand jury has charged Boaz and Augustus with various offenses, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud involving fraudulent prescriptions, and aggravated identity theft. The charges stem from allegations that between June 2017 and September 2021, the two individuals conspired to falsely bill health care benefit programs for medications that were never prescribed, resulting in over $1 million in fraudulent billings. Additionally, they were accused of using the identity of a nurse practitioner without authorization.

If convicted, Boaz and Augustus could face up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for each count. This story is still developing and further updates may be forthcoming.