Manchester Man Admits Bribes For Pain Med Referrals

CAMDEN, NJ – A Manchester man admitted paying tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to a sports medicine doctor on behalf of Prescriptions R Us, a compound pharmacy in Lakewood, to refer his prescriptions to the Lakewood pharmacy, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said Tuesday.

Howard Wertheim, 67, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Camden federal court to one count of paying kickbacks, according to a news release from Fishman’s office.

Wertheim admitted that from February 2013 through October 2013, he worked for Vladimir Kleyman, 44, of Lakewood, the president and pharmacist-in-charge of Prescriptions R Us.

According to court documents, as a compounding pharmacy, Prescriptions R Us prepared medication using different types and dosages of drugs in order to provide more personalized medications for patients. Prescriptions R Us supplied a topical cream for pain treatment that was made from ketamine (a Schedule III non-narcotic), lidocaine, diclofenac and other ingredients, according to the news release.

Wertheim admitted that Kleyman paid him to help recruit and pay physicians to refer their prescriptions to Prescriptions R Us, and that as part of the scheme, he paid tens of thousands of dollars in cash bribes to James Morales, 45, a sports medicine doctor with a practice in Toms River, in exchange for referring pain cream prescriptions.

Morales pleaded guilty to accepting $60,000 in bribes in the case on June 29, 2015. He awaits sentencing in the case.

The kickback charge to which Wertheim pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for April 25, the release said.

As part of his plea agreement, Wertheim must forfeit $25,000, representing the money he made as payment for his work as a middle-man in the scheme, the release said.

Kleyman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay kickbacks and to commit health care fraud on Oct. 14, 2014, was sentenced Nov. 4, 2015 to 20 months in prison, the release said.