HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) – Four more people have been indicted on fraud charges for prescribing unneeded pain creams to bilk insurers.
An indictment unsealed Monday alleges that Dr. Shahjahan Sultan of Madison, Dr. Thomas Edward Sturdavant of Kingsport, Tennessee, Freda Cal Covington of Hattiesburg and Fallon Deenem Page of Soso took part in the scheme. Prosecutors say it improperly reaped $7 million.
The indictment says the scheme targeted federal military insurer Tricare and private insurers Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi and United Healthcare of Mississippi. The indictment says at least three other unnamed people were involved. It also implicates an unnamed Mississippi Gulf Coast pharmacy.
Sultan and Page pleaded not guilty on Monday in Hattiesburg and are free on bail. Covington and Sturdavant are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.