Fake pain cream sold at The Arnold, to city first responders, couple admit

COLUMBUS -- A central Ohio couple has pleaded guilty to federal health-care fraud charges for conspiring with others to sell a bogus pain cream to those seeking pain relief, including attendees at The Arnold Sports Festival and Columbus first responders.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the southern district of Ohio said Amy M. Kirk, a nurse practitioner in Columbus, and Ryan D. Edney of Plain City, each signed plea deals for conspiracy to commit health-care fraud, according to court records.

Each of them faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The plea deals are part of an ongoing federal investigation into a bogus prescription drug ring, said Ken Affedlt, an assistant U.S. district attorney for the southern district.

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The city of Columbus’ health-care plans were billed $8,100 a tube in the first quarter of 2015. From February to June 2015, city employees submitted 283 prescriptions for a compound cream for a total of $2.3 million, according to city records provided to The Dispatch. Those prescriptions were filled by Topical Rx.

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