Hamada Makarita, 50, of Oakton, Virginia, has been charged in a 15-count
indictment of using his position as a dentist to illegally distribute
prescription pills to patients, employees, and women he dated. He was also
charged with allegedly using the identity of another dentist to fraudulently
bill an insurance company of more than
$160,000 in claims.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of
Virginia, and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the
announcement.
Makarita was charged with conspiracy, health care fraud, aggravated identity
theft, and 12 counts of dispensing controlled substances. If convicted, he faces
a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the health care fraud charge, 20
years in prison for conspiracy on each dispensing controlled substances charge,
and a consecutive two-year sentence for the aggravated identity theft
charge.
According to the indictment, Makarita owns and operates a dental practice in
Oakton, Virginia and advertised online at www.fixasmile.com. The indictment alleges that from about
2007 to 2012, Makarita distributed and dispensed thousands of dosages of
prescription medicine to patients, employees, and girlfriends, all without a
legitimate dental purpose and beyond the bounds of a dental practice. Makarita
allegedly asked those who received the prescriptions he issued to return to him
some or all the prescribed medicine. On numerous occasions, Makarita would
distribute prescription pills to patients and girlfriends in social settings and
for prurient purposes, including for consensual and non-consensual sex.
In addition, the indictment alleges that Makarita provided more than $160,000
in services to his family members and billed them to an insurance provider in
violation of the provider’s contract. He allegedly billed the services under the
name of another dentist who did not practice in Makarita’s office at that time.
Makarita received more than $91,000 in reimbursement from the provider for these
fraudulent claims.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Special
Assistant United States Attorney Mazen Basrawi is prosecuting the case on behalf
of the United States.
This case is part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
(OCDETF) investigation (Operation Cotton Candy), which has been focusing on the
illegal distribution by numerous doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and patients of
pain medication. This OCDETF matter has secured more than 200 drug-trafficking
convictions and guilty pleas.
Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant
is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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