By: Richard L. Smith
A North Jersey pharmacy owner has admitted his role in a large-scale Medicare fraud operation that brought in more than $2.5 million in illegal reimbursements, federal officials said.
According to information released by Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba, 37-year-old Nestor E. Jaime of Pine Brook pleaded guilty on Nov. 19, 2025, in Newark federal court to one count of health care fraud.
The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden.
Federal court documents outline that between December 2019 and December 2021, Jaime used a pharmacy he operated in Paterson to submit hundreds of bogus claims to Medicare for the high-cost drug Dificid, a medication that typically reimburses more than $4,000 per prescription.
Investigators said the pharmacy never purchased or dispensed the drug, and many of the Medicare beneficiaries listed never had prescriptions for it.
Jaime also used legitimate provider identification numbers to make the claims appear real.
Authorities stated that the illegal proceeds, approximately $2.5 million, were spent on luxury vehicles and personal expenses.
The health care fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the financial gain or loss tied to the crime. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
