Robert Rose Sentenced

Leader of Fraudulent Opioid Prescription Conspiracy Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison

Fraudulent prescriptions netted approximately 21,000 opioid pills

PROVIDENCE, RI – The leader of a conspiracy that created and filled fraudulent prescriptions for approximately 21,000 opioid pills using stolen medical practitioner identification numbers and identities, and, at times, unlawfully paid for the prescriptions with the use of medical insurance, was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison.

At the time of his guilty plea, Robert Rose, 52, of Providence, admitted to manufacturing fraudulent prescriptions utilizing the identities and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identification numbers and signatures of medical practitioners without their consent. Prescriptions for varying amounts of Oxycodone pills were written and presented to pharmacies by other members of the conspiracy and individuals working at the direction of the conspirators. The scheme often times included the fraudulent use of medical insurance to pay pharmacies for the illicit prescriptions. Most of the Oxycodone pills gained with the use of fraudulent prescriptions were sold to others for distribution.

At the time of his guilty plea, Rose admitted that as the leader of the conspiracy, he paid for individuals’ identities, health care insurance information, and medical practitioners’ names and DEA numbers. Rose provided that information to others who participated in the conspiracy, along with special paper necessary to produce the fraudulent prescriptions.

Rose pleaded guilty on June 1, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute Oxycodone, and aggravated identity theft. He admitted to running the conspiracy for several months while incarcerated at the Adult Correctional Institution on an unrelated matter.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith sentenced Rose to 72 months in federal prison to be followed by 5 years supervised release.

The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in this matter is 210 months to 240 months, plus a consecutive term of 24 months incarceration on the charge of aggravated identity theft. The government recommended the Court impose a sentence of 105 months incarceration, plus a consecutive term of 24 months incarceration on the charge of aggravated identity theft.

Robert Rose’s sentence is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Jeffrey Ebersole Resident Agent in Charge of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations.

“Opioid addiction and abuse are an immense public health crisis,” said Jeffrey J. Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice criminals who intensify the crisis by forging prescriptions for opioids and place the public’s health at risk.”

Four other members of the conspiracy previously pleaded guilty in this matter:

• Michael Slonski, 48, of Johnston, pleaded guilty on April 2, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute Oxycodone. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2018.

• Raymond Walker, 47, of Cranston, pleaded guilty on June 25, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone and Social Security fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 7, 2018.

• David Rose, 59, of Providence, pleaded guilty on March 7, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone. On October 3, 2018, he was sentenced to two years probation.

• Victoria Rose-Coccia, 29, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty on February 28, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute Oxycodone. On June 25, 2018, she was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release.

A fifth individual, Tammy Bonham, 53, of Providence, is awaiting trial on a charge of conspiracy to acquire or obtain possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, or subterfuge; misbranding drugs.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan.

The matter was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations.