TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida doctor is facing federal prison time after pleading guilty to unlawful drug distribution, defrauding Medicare, and stealing from the Paycheck Protection Program.
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U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell sentenced Tommy Louisville, 71, of Pembroke Pines, to one year and one day in federal prison for illegal drug distribution, making false statements about health care issues, and Paycheck Protection Program fraud.
The court also ordered Louisville to pay the Small Business Administration $35,319.23 in restitution and Medicare $8,466.56.
Dr Louisville entered a guilty plea on November 3, 2023.
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According to court documents, Louisville was a Florida-licensed physician and Drug Enforcement Administration registrant. On May 30, 2019, the Florida Board of Medicine suspended Louisville from the practice of medicine for two years, thereby making him ineligible to prescribe controlled substances lawfully.
Dr Louisville continued to issue controlled-substance prescriptions after his medical license was suspended. Furthermore, he reportedly concealed that he was not authorized to issue prescriptions from Medicare in connection with the submission of prescriptions for payment to Medicare.
Louisville eventually shuttered his medical business in November 2019.
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Between April 2020 and May 2020, Dr Louisville reportedly used his closed business to fraudulently obtain a federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for $33,034.
According to court documents, he submitted an application containing multiple fraudulent representations, including an average monthly payroll suggesting he actively operated a medical business, employed six employees, and certified that loan proceeds would be used for business-related purposes.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration (Tampa District Office), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo prosecuted it.
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