N.Y. U.S. Attorney: Leader of Black-Market HIV Medication Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty

NEW YORK, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2023:

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that BORIS AMINOV pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with engaging in a years-long scheme to defraud Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies out of at least $20 million. 10 other defendants were charged in connection with the scheme in two separate indictments unsealed in March and October 2023. AMINOV pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "Boris Aminov orchestrated a scheme to get rich by lying to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies and by depriving vulnerable HIV patients of legitimate and safe medications. Aminov also made millions of dollars through buying and distributing black-market HIV medications to pharmacies all over New York City. This Office will be tireless in its pursuit of those who seek to line their pockets by preying on vulnerable members of society."

According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictments and statements made in court proceedings:

From at least in or about 2017 through at least in or about 2023, AMINOV and others engaged in a scheme that defrauded Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies out of at least approximately $20 million through trafficking in black-market HIV medication. In doing so, they exploited at least hundreds of low-income individuals who had been prescribed HIV medication, jeopardizing the health and safety of those vulnerable patients.

AMINOV distributed black-market HIV medications to pharmacies that were owned and operated by other co-conspirators. That medication was then dispensed to unknowing patients who believed they were receiving legitimate medication. To further their scheme and conceal their proceeds, co-conspirators used bank accounts associated with their respective pharmacies to funnel money to shell companies controlled by AMINOV.

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AMINOV, 47, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

This case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey W. Coyle and Jackie Delligatti are in charge of the prosecution.

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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/leader-black-market-hiv-medication-fraud-scheme-pleads-guilty