Prior to alleged Rx conspiracy, pharmacy owner was sued by bank for contract breach

By G. Romero Wendorf

According to the federal indictment against Licensed Pharmacist Omar Espericueta, owner of Penitas-based Riverside Pharmacy (Penitas Family Pharmacy), handed down July 21, he is part of a conspiracy to defraud Blue Cross/Blue Shield to the tune of approximately $1.5 million by helping facilitate the delivery of bogus prescriptions to patients who worked for several local cities – Pharr and Mission – as well as a private business, Frontera Produce, and a school district, Point Isabel ISD (Port Isabel).

Just immediately prior to the time period that the healthcare-related fraud was alleged to have occurred – August 2015 through early 2016 – Espericueta was sued by American Express Bank, which claimed that he was in default of a loan owed to the bank in the tune of $195,502.85, according to a lawsuit filed against him and his company dated July 9, 2015 (Hidalgo County District Clerk’s Office).

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