Woman Used Relative's License To Pose As Doctor, Treat Patients In Ocean Co.: Authorities

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River woman is accused of posing as a doctor, using the active medical license of a relative to fraudulently treat patients and prescribe medications. authorities announced Thursday.

Maria F. Macburnie, also known as Marife L. Macburnie, 62, was arrested Wednesday on charges of practicing medicine by an unlicensed person, forgery, health care claims fraud, and three counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.

The charges were announced by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Cheryl Ortiz, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division.

Investigators learned that from March 2022 through June 2023, Macburnie was seeing and treating patients while posing as a licensed medical practitioner, working out of Shore Medical Associates located at 601 Route 37 West, Suite 101, in Toms River, authorities said.

Macburnie presented herself as Dr. Fe Almazon-Condit — a relative of Macburnie’s who has an active license to practice medicine, authorities said. Macburnie was prescribing medications, including controlled dangerous substances, to patients, authorities said.

Authorities found Macburnie had written multiple prescriptions under Almazon-Condit's name and submitted multiple insurance claims and bills for services rendered during time periods when Almazon-Condit was unable to see and treat patients.

The news release did not say whether Almazon-Condit was aware that Macburnie was using her name to receive and treat patients, bill their insurance and write prescriptions.

Billhimer and Ortiz urge anyone who believes they were seen and/or treated by Macburnie to contact Detective Joseph Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad at 732-929-2027, ext. 3532.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad and DEA New Jersey Division-Camden Resident Office.

Macburnie is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.