Attorney General's News Release

December 6, 2004

Attorney General Nixon, Pike County Prosecutor Williams file criminal charges against Louisiana, Mo., pharmacist

Bowling Green, Mo. —Attorney General Jay Nixon and Pike County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Williams today filed criminal charges against a Louisiana, Mo., pharmacist for allegedly billing Medicaid for thousands of dollars in medical prescriptions that were never filled.

Charges were filed today in Pike County Circuit Court against Jeffrey C. Barnes, 46 (DOB 1/24/58), and his company Jeff Barnes Inc., d.b.a. Best Buy Pharmacy of Louisiana. Barnes is charged with one felony count of stealing by deceit, punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and 13 felony counts of making a false statement to receive a health care payment, punishable by up to four years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count.

The charges allege that between January 2003 and January 2004, Barnes appropriated Medicaid program funds of at least $25,000 in value by billing the program for prescriptions that were never filled or even prescribed by a doctor. Investigators with Nixon's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit interviewed numerous physicians who had no record of having prescribed medications, even though Barnes and Best Buy Pharmacy of Louisiana allegedly billed for dispensing the medications.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General's Office has authority under state law to investigate and prosecute, both civilly and criminally, allegations of fraud against Missouri's Medicaid program.

The charges against Barnes are merely accusations. As in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law. A judge has set bond at $50,000.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818