HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Michelle Henry has announced the sentencing of Joseph G. Sapp, a former certified registered nurse practitioner from western Pennsylvania, to 11.5 to 23 months in prison followed by eight years of probation. Sapp’s sentencing marks a significant step in addressing prescription fraud and its contribution to the opioid crisis. He had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including possession with intent to deliver, Medicaid fraud, and forgery.
The case centered on Sapp’s fraudulent activities involving the illegal prescription of thousands of Oxycodone pills, an abuse of his professional responsibilities that exacerbated the opioid epidemic. A thorough investigation by the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed Sapp’s extensive network for writing and distributing prescriptions. These prescriptions were filled at various pharmacies across Westmoreland, Allegheny, Fayette, and Washington counties.
Sapp admitted to writing prescriptions for personal use and for others, often in exchange for money, and defrauding Medicaid in the process. His actions included submitting false Medicaid claims for non-essential prescriptions and obtaining drugs under false identities. These activities were further compounded by his use of forged prescriptions to facilitate the distribution of controlled substances.
Attorney General Henry emphasized the gravity of Sapp’s offenses, noting the breach of trust inherent in his actions. “The defendant had a professional responsibility to prescribe medications for people in need, and instead, betrayed his duties by contributing to the opioid epidemic and expanding access to Oxycodone,” she stated, underscoring the commitment to uphold the highest standards for those administering powerful medications.
The investigation benefitted from the collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Penn Township Police Department, the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force, the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorneys General Thomas R. Grace and Edward Song.
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