Pharmacy owners sentenced

NAPLES — U.S. District Judge John Steele sentenced Delmer Holmes Parrish, 44, on Monday to two years in prison for his role in health care fraud through his business, Naples-based Sunshine Pharmacy.

Holmes also sentenced Delmer Parrish's mother, Patricia Parrish, 74, to two years of probation for her role in the fraud.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office, the Parrishes defrauded government health care programs Medicaid, Medicare and Tricare by requesting reimbursements for unfilled prescriptions, including for some patients who were dead. Medicaid is the state health insurance program for low-income people, Medicare is the health insurance program for older people and Tricare is the health insurance program for veterans.

The U.S. Attorney's office says the Parrishes defrauded government health care programs by $351,358.14 and the Parrishes paid that sum in restitution. In addition, Delmer Parrish agreed to permanently relinquish his pharmacist license and Patricia Parrish was fined $5,000.