Anja Salamack, a 50-year-old nurse practitioner from Delray Beach, Florida, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to health care fraud and unlawful drug distribution. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated that Salamack was charged with submitting false claims to health care benefit programs in New York and issuing prescriptions for a controlled substance outside of professional practice standards.
The charges are part of the Department of Justice's 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. Salamack, who was residing in Florida while claiming to practice in Albany, submitted fraudulent claims totaling $163,639.58 for services, including psychotherapy, that were not provided. Additionally, from November 2018 to May 2023, she prescribed amphetamines to individuals who were not her patients, at the request of a relative.
Under the supervision of U.S. District Court Judge Ann M. Nardacci, Salamack was also ordered to serve one year of home detention, followed by a two-year term of supervised release after her prison sentence, and to pay full restitution along with a $10,000 fine. As part of her guilty plea, she surrendered her DEA registration, which authorized her to prescribe controlled substances.
In a related civil settlement, Salamack acknowledged submitting claims to Medicare for services that were not provided and improperly using Provider Relief Funds designated for COVID-19 pandemic-related healthcare expenses. She has agreed to pay $188,850 to resolve claims under the False Claims Act. DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino stated that her actions involved prioritizing financial gain over professional responsibilities.
The law enforcement operation connected to this case resulted in charges against 324 defendants for health care fraud and illegal drug diversion, involving more than $14.6 billion in false billing and the illegal diversion of over 15.6 million pills. The government also seized assets, including over $245 million in cash and luxury vehicles.
The investigations were conducted by the DEA's Tactical Diversion Squad, with assistance from HHS-OIG, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and local Albany law enforcement. The civil and criminal cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys, involving coordination among multiple agencies.
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