PATERSON, NJ – Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes announced on Monday that Alia Muslih, 41, Montclair, Yaser Abdel-Fatah, 50, Buffalo, NY, and Marco Gamarra, 64, Bronx, NY, have been indicted on a combined 77 counts under Indictment No. 23-04-00376-I. The charges include several counts of possession and distribution of prescription drugs and controlled substances, obtaining a prescription drug by forgery, theft by deception, forgery, healthcare claims fraud, insurance fraud, misconduct by a corporate official, impersonation, money laundering, failure to file and pay tax, and animal cruelty.
The investigation began in July 2021 when an individual reported to the Totowa Police Department that her dog had died following a routine spay appointment at Totowa Animal Hospital. The Totowa Police Department notified the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office White Collar Crimes Division, which then opened an investigation. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Muslih had continued to operate the Totowa Animal Hospital illegally from December 2020 through August 2021 without a licensed veterinarian on staff after her husband’s death. Abdel-Fatah and Gamarra were also discovered to have been holding themselves out as veterinarians and performing surgical procedures and medical treatments on animals while working at the hospital.
If found guilty of the second-degree offenses, the defendants could face five to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. If found guilty of the third-degree offenses, they could face three to five years in New Jersey State Prison, and if found guilty of the fourth-degree offenses, they could face up to 18 months in New Jersey State Prison.
The defendants are currently on pretrial release pending the disposition of this case, and an arraignment will be scheduled at a date and time to be determined by the court.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office urges anyone with additional information about this incident or other incidents involving these individuals to contact them on their tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO.
© Provided by TAPinto
