On Wednesday, 62-year-old Maria Macburnie of New Jersey was detained on suspicion of impersonating a doctor and writing prescriptions for drugs. She has been accused of forgery, health care claims fraud, practicing medicine without a license, and three counts of distributing a controlled dangerous chemical, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
The prosecutor's office emphasized that from March 2022 to June 2023, Macburnie fraudulently provided medical care to patients at Shore Medical Associates in Toms River, New Jersey. She utilized the name of a relative who holds a current medical license while engaging in medical practice. She gave patients prescriptions for medications, including those for prohibited hazardous substances, in the name of family members.
Macburnie submitted insurance claims and service invoices during the alleged fraud. She has been put into the Ocean County Jail after being brought into custody.
If any patients were given the incorrect medications or if Macburnie was complicit in a false medical diagnosis, investigations might be conducted. Patients who received care from the woman were advised to get in touch with law enforcement officials so they could help with the investigation and indictment.
To expose Macburnie, the Economic Crime Squad, DEA officers, and detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office worked together.
