Margate doc admits multimillion-dollar role in health-care fraud ahead of trial

A Margate doctor who was set to go on trial for his part in a multimillion-dollar health-care fraud scheme pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Brian Sokalsky, 44, admitted to one count of conspiring to commit health care fraud in District Court in Camden.

He was one of three people indicted in June, and the last to plead guilty.

"Dr. Sokalsky is a doctor who was dedicated to his patients," his attorney, Bill Hughes Jr., told BreakingAC.

"Yes, he made a mistake, he's admitted it," he added. "He's accepted responsibility and will accept the punishment the court decides and is looking forward to putting this behind him."

Matthew Tedesco — who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud — had an arrangement with Sokalsky to send the doctor new patients in exchange for Sokalsky prescribing them Compounding Pharmacy 1 medications, according to the indictment.

In exchange, Tedesco sent about 30 patients to Sokalsky's medical practice. The doctor then prescribed unnecessary compounding medications to those patients.

The fraudulent prescriptions cost insurance more than $5 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a quarter-million fine.

Sokalsky is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 22, but all of the previous cases have seen the first sentencing date postponed.

PREVIOUS PLEAS

Dr. John Gaffney, 55, of Linwood: Margate doctor must forfeit $25,000. Cost: $24.9 million

Michael Sher, 40, of Northfield: Margate firefighter must forfeit $1.7 million. Cost: tbd at sentencing

Mike Pepper, 45, of Northfield: Atlantic City firefighter must forfeit $113,627.54. Cost: $719,000

Richard Erick McAllister, 42, of Ocean City: Pleasantville High School English teacher must forfeit $456,806.23. Cost: $3.4 million

Shawn Sypherd, 46, of Marmora: Middle Township Middle School social studies teacher must forfeit $354,264.06. Cost: $2.4 million

Michael Pilate, 39, of Williamstown: Pleasantville schools counselor must forfeit $392,684.20. Cost: $3.5 million

Matthew Tedesco, 42, of Linwood: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $11.1 million. Cost: $28.7 million

Nicholas Tedesco, 44, of Linwood: local candy retailer must forfeit $782,766.56. Cost: $2 million

Tara LaMonaca, 43, of Linwood: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $89,855.13. Cost: $530,527

William Hunter, 43, of Sewell: Salesman must forfeit $245,020.08. Cost: $1.3 million

Michael Neopolitan, 49, of Willow Grove, Pa.: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $198,617.14. Cost: $762,519

Judd Holt, 42, of Marlton: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $95,574.49. Cost: $769,762

George Gavras, 36, of Moorestown: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $204,002.02. Cost: $679,368.53

Steven Urbanski, 37, of Marlton: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $113,600. Cost: $250,000

Thomas Hodnett, 41, of Voorhees: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $270,000. Cost: $1.5 million

Robert Bessey, 43, of Philadelphia: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $485,540.09. Cost: $2.7 million

Richard Zappala, 45, of Northfield: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $1.5 million. Cost: $4.3 million

Andrew Gerstel, 39, of Galloway Township: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit $184,389.05. Cost: $483,946

Timothy Frazier, 42, of Galloway Township: Commercial construction estimator must forfeit $145,425. Cost: $801,119

Robert Madonna, 36, of Florida: Former Margate mortgage consultant must forfeit $179,370. Cost: $2.1 million.

Kristie Abbott Masucci, 36, of Cedar Run: Pharmaceutical representative must forfeit amount to be determined at sentencing. Cost: $1.88 million.

James Wildman, 44, of Marmora: Ocean City schools maintenance worker, must forfeit $657,040. Cost: $4.9 million.

Corey Sutor, 37, of Ventnor: Ventnor firefighter, must forfeit $150,397.79. Cost: $2 million.

Ed Sutor Jr., 36, of Linwood: Ventnor firefighter, must forfeit Cost: 335,551.81. Cost. $2.7 million.

Mark Bruno, 45, of Northfield: Pharmaceutical representative, received $68,872. Cost: $524,935