A Jacksonville pharmacy owner faces federal charges in an alleged $51 million health care fraud scheme that started with offers of free cellphones.
Prosecutors said Thursday that Charlie Griffin III used insurance information collected through the promotions to bill for HIV medications backed by fake diagnoses.
Marketers allegedly offered the cellphones in low-income neighborhoods to obtain residents’ insurance details. Insurers ultimately paid out about $51 million under the scheme, U.S. Attorney Greg Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida said…