Former PA Doctor Charged In Prescription Forgery Ring

Harrisburg, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) - A former doctor with the Penn State Hershey Medical Group was charged today, accused of writing fraudulent prescriptions for pain medications. Ten other people also face charges for filling those prescriptions at pharmacies throughout South Central Pennsylvania.
 
Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane said the arrests are the result of a grand jury investigation into the prescribing practices of Dr. Claude Fanelli, formerly a cardiologist with the Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute, 3025 Market St., Camp Hill, Cumberland County.

The grand jury found that Dr. Fanelli sold blank pre-signed prescriptions to Donna Essis-Danfora for $1,000 per script. Essis-Danfora allegedly told Dr. Fanelli the names that she filled in on the blank scripts so that he would be able to verify the prescriptions with area pharmacies, despite never having seen or treated the individuals.

According to the grand jury, Essis-Danfora recruited others, including her son, to pass the prescriptions at various pharmacies in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster and York counties. Once the prescriptions were filled, Essis-Danfora allegedly sold the pills for between $20 and $30 per tablet.

Between February 2012 and April 2012 agents identified approximately 26 fraudulent prescriptions signed by Dr. Fanelli, for approximately 4,400 Oxycodone pills with an estimated street value of $111,000.

Kane said that Essis-Danfora enlisted the help of at least eight individuals.  Agents believe that Gregg Williams, a former student at Franklin & Marshall College, and Travis Thorpe, not only acted as runners for Essis-Danfora, but also purchased pills and resold them on the Franklin & Marshall campus.

The grand jury found that Essis-Danfora also had runners pass fraudulent scripts, which were created on a computer using doctors' names without their knowledge. Her network also allegedly engaged in the common practice of "doctor shopping," or visiting different doctors in order to receive prescriptions for pain medication.

"Prescription drug abuse is the nation's fastest growing drug problem," Kane said. "It is a deadly struggle that is affecting communities across Pennsylvania. My office is committed to identifying doctors, and others, who misuse powerful prescription narcotics without any concern for the potentially deadly consequences."
 
 Kane thanked the Spring Garden Township Police Department in York, the York Area Regional Police Department, the Lower Paxton Police Department in Harrisburg, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, and Franklin & Marshall College for their assistance with the investigation.

Kane noted that Dr. Fanelli has voluntarily surrendered his DEA license and his medical license issued by the state of Pennsylvania.

The case will be prosecuted in York County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Heather Adams of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force.

Below is a complete list of the defendants and the charges against them.

--Dr. Claude Fanelli, 56, 6485 Gallop Road, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, is charged with one count of administering, dispensing, delivering or prescribing a controlled substance not in accordance with treatment principles accepted by the medical profession, one count of delivery of Oxycodone, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver Oxycodone, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

--Donna Essis-Danfora, 49, 941 South Pine St., York, York County, is charged with three counts of delivery of Oxycodone, one count of criminal attempt to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver Oxycodone, one count of corrupt organizations, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.

--April Williams, 43, 653 Lincoln St., York, York County, is charged with one count of criminal attempt to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

--Gregg Williams, 23, 851 Phelps Road, Benton, Kentucky, is charged with three counts of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, two counts of criminal attempt to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

--Travis Thorpe, 22, 800 Birch St., Benton, Kentucky, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

--Eric Sargen, 44, 33 Timbervilla, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

--David Stewart, 58, last known address 941 Pine St., York, York County, is charged with three counts of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

--Joseph Parker, 22, last known address - 129 South Front St., York Haven, York County, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

--Wadie Danfora, 23, 941 South Pine St., York, York County, is charged with two counts of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of delivery of Oxycodone, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver Oxycodone.

--Amanda Tsykalyuk, 29, last known address - 129 South Front St., York Haven, York County, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

--Wilfredo Sanchez Jr., 27, last known address - 941 South Pine St., York, York County, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of delivery of Oxycodone, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver Oxycodone, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.

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