By: Richard L. Smith
Six New Jersey residents, including a doctor, nurses, a pharmacist, and a medical office manager, have been charged in connection with an alleged $20.6 million Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary prescriptions and illegal kickbacks, according to information released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced that the defendants are accused of participating in a conspiracy in which prescriptions for high-reimbursement medications were issued to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in exchange for cash kickbacks.
According to federal prosecutors, Sherif Elmasri, 45, of Morganville, a pharmacy owner, admitted to conspiring to commit health care fraud and violate the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Authorities allege that between October 2022 and November 2025, Elmasri paid health care providers to prescribe medications he selected for Medicare and Medicaid patients, allowing his pharmacies to submit insurance claims and generate substantial profits.
Among those charged is Dr. Boris Veysman, 48, of Freehold, an emergency medicine physician, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and unlawfully distributing controlled substances.
Prosecutors allege Veysman accepted payments from Elmasri in exchange for writing prescriptions for patients referred by the pharmacist, at times without examining them.
Federal authorities also charged advanced practice nurses Nikki Steidle, 53, of Toms River, and Ashlee Maixner, 39, of Lakehurst. Prosecutors allege both received illegal kickbacks for issuing prescriptions, while Maixner has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Stephanie Cupo, 45, of South Plainfield, pleaded guilty to conspiring to make false statements related to health care matters and improperly using another person’s Drug Enforcement
Administration registration number. According to prosecutors, Cupo submitted false prior authorization information to increase the likelihood that Medicare and other insurers would approve payment for prescriptions.
Janet Tadros, 59, of Union City, the office manager of a Jersey City neurology practice, also pleaded guilty.
Prosecutors allege Tadros accepted approximately $3,000 per week in cash kickbacks between December 2023 and November 2025 in exchange for sending medically unnecessary prescriptions to Elmasri’s pharmacies.
Authorities claim many of those prescriptions were issued without patients being evaluated or the prescribing provider’s knowledge.
Federal prosecutors allege the scheme caused approximately $20.7 million in losses to Medicare and Medicaid.
In addition to the health care fraud allegations, Veysman, Steidle, and Maixner are accused of conspiring to unlawfully distribute controlled substances by issuing prescriptions without properly evaluating patients.
The charges against Maixner remain allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.