A Neligh woman is set to make her first court appearance next month after a grand jury in Omaha indicted her on suspicion of defrauding the government of more than half a million dollars.
Danelle Charf, 47, is charged in a five-count indictment for health care fraud.
If convicted, she would face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge.
In court records, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelli Ceraolo said Charf, a pharmacist, owned and operated Wanek Pharmacy in Neligh and Tilden Pharmacy in nearby Tilden.
The indictment alleges that, beginning as early as January 2016 and continuing until Jan. 27, 2021, Charf submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare and Nebraska Medicaid.
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Ceraolo said Charf filled prescriptions at Wanek and Tilden pharmacies with the generic version of certain medications, then submitted claims seeking reimbursement for the more expensive brand-name versions of the medications.
As a result of the scheme, prosecutors say she caused losses of at least $573,300 to Medicare and Nebraska Medicaid.
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Yuliia Iziumova (left) hugs her mother Oksana Iziumova Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at the Lincoln Airport. It was the first time they'd been together in more than three years. JAIDEN TRIPI, Journal Star
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Lincoln High's Javon Leuty celebrates his win in the Class A boys 110-meter hurdles Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Omaha Burke Stadium. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Lincoln High's Landon Kruse competes in the wheelchair Class A boys 800-meter race at the state track and field meet Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Omaha Burke Stadium. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Elkhorn North celebrates on the field after defeating Waverly in the Class B baseball championship game Friday, May 20, 2022, at Tal Anderson Field in Omaha. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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The boys Class B 3,200-meter race enters its third lap at the state track and field meet Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at Omaha Burke Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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