Carter’s Ortega Pharmacy Owner Found Not Guilty of All Charges in United States District Court, Middle District of Florida

Jacksonville-Based Pharmacy Owner Acquitted of All Indictment Counts

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Greg Carter, owner of Carter’s Ortega Pharmacy, has been found not guilty of all charges by a jury in a federal health care fraud court case in Jacksonville, Florida.

The health care fraud investigation commenced in 2015 when Mr. Carter proactively contacted law enforcement authorities to inform them of concerns he had regarding questionable practices that had recently been brought to his attention, which eventually led to Mr. Carter becoming a part of a criminal investigation despite him initiating the report to the authorities.

Maintaining his innocence throughout the course of the investigation, and the resulting federal indictment, Mr. Carter continued to cooperate with authorities. His innocence was finally affirmed when the jury returned the not guilty verdict.

“After their careful and thoughtful deliberations, the jury’s verdict demonstrates what I have said from the beginning – I am not guilty of committing a crime, nor would I ever condone any illegal activities,” said Carter. “I would also like to thank my team, the community and my family and friends for all of their support for the six-and-a-half-year duration of this case.”

Mr. Carter’s father, William (Bill) Carter, had been the owner of Carter’s Ortega Pharmacy and Park & King Pharmacy, both based in Jacksonville, for many years. In 2002, Mr. Carter purchased both pharmacies from his father.

“We are gratified that after the evidence was presented, the jury agreed that Mr. Carter was indeed not guilty and found innocent of all charges. The evidence showed nothing more than Mr. Carter running his family pharmacy. We’re happy an innocent man can go back to being a businessman and community leader without this hanging over his head,” said Mr. Carter’s attorney, Ron Kozlowski, of Turner O’Connor Kozlowski, P.L. which is based in Gainesville, Fla., who presented Carter’s defense along with Caleb Kenyon, also of the Turner O’Connor Kozlowski law firm, and Robert O’Neill, of the ONeill Law Group, LLC.

Mr. Carter feels fortunate to employ a group of reliable and valuable individuals who assist in the running of the pharmacy, as he himself is not a pharmacist. Several of these individuals testified at the trial on Mr. Carter’s behalf.

“As the government’s case against Mr. Carter has been concluded, he is able to continue his work serving the community that relies on Carter’s Ortega Pharmacy,” concluded Mr. Kozlowski.

Codefendant John Clark Walton, a sales director who worked for the pharmacy at the time, also was found not guilty on all counts. Mr. Walton was represented by Mark Horwitz and Vince Citro of Orlando, Florida.

Contacts

Mackenzie Sadler

Carter’s Ortega Pharmacy

(407) 913-7606

[email protected]