Jun 11, 2018 3 min read

The latest in a cascade of federal indictments already implicating doctors and a manager has now resulted in charges against the owner of a local clinic treating people for opioid addiction.

Jennifer Hess, 49, of Washington, is due in U.S. District Court Wednesday for arraignment on charges stemming from a 47-count indictment that included aiding in the distribution of buprenorphine, known as Suboxone and Subutex, conspiracy and health-care fraud.

When federal authorities raided Redirections Treatment Advocates LLC clinics in Washington and a former location in Bridgeville in January, Hess, who identified herself as a counselor, told the Observer-Reporter they were “conducting an audit” for about two or three hours.

Federal authorities Monday said Hess had a much more significant role at the string of clinics.

“As detailed in this indictment, RTA owner Jennifer Hess operated a network of addiction treatment clinics – which could be helping those in their hour of greatest need – as a cash business, and then committed health-care fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

He called combating the opioid epidemic in Western Pennsylvania the No.1 priority of his office.

The illegal distribution of the controlled substance through RTA stretches back to 2014, and allegedly continued through Jan. 2 of this year, authorities said.

The health-care fraud allegations accuse Hess of causing fraudulent claims to be submitted to the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs to cover the costs of unlawfully prescribed buprenorphine.

The Washington clinic operated at Suite 107, 382 W. Chestnut St., Washington, in a complex known as West Chestnut Place. The 600 Washington Ave., Bridgeville, address hasn’t been used as a treatment clinic for at least a year and a half. Other locations searched in January were in Moundsville, Weirton and Morgantown, W.Va., and an address in the 100 block of LeMoyne Avenue, East Washington, owned by Hess.

Suboxone and Subutex, which also contain a form of naloxone, known commercially as Narcan, are used to treat opioid addiction.

Federal Chief Magistrate Judge Maureen P. Kelly signed a warrant for Hess’ arrest last week and Friday issued an order that the government could unseal the grand jury’s case.

Hess’ initial appearance before the magistrate was also last Friday, when she was released on $10,000 unsecured bond.

“There is no comment at this time,” responded Hess’ attorney, Martin A. Dietz of Pittsburgh, to an email inquiry Monday.

Five doctors who worked as contractors with the clinics also were charged federally last month: Dr. Madhu Aggarwal, 67, of Moon Township; Dr. Michael Bummer, 38, of Sewickley; Dr. Parth Bharill, 69, of Pittsburgh; Dr. Cherian John, 65, of Coraopolis; and Dr. Krishnan Kumar Aggarwal, 73, of Moon.

Hess’ indictment alleges the physicians and Hess were part of a scheme to sign blank prescriptions in advance. Dates, patients’ names, the drug and quantity were later filled in.

Redirections’ manager, Christopher Handa, 47, of Pittsburgh, was indicted in March. All face charges related to creating and submitting unlawful prescriptions for the narcotic painkiller and then unlawfully dispensing those controlled substances to others.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions formed an opioid fraud and detection unit that includes the Internal Revenue Service and the Pennsylvania office of the attorney general. They are among the many agencies that have participated in 11 investigations in Western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia, using data to target and prosecute those accused of committing opioid-related health-care fraud.