Federal Jury Finds Mother and Daughter Guilty of Medicare Fraud Scheme and Payment of Illegal Kickbacks

SAN DIEGO - A federal jury today convicted a mother and daughter from Melbourne, Florida, of multiple counts of health care fraud, payment of illegal kickbacks, and conspiracy to commit those offenses.

The mother, Cindy Justice, was the owner and president of PureScience Rx, a pharmacy located in Poway. The daughter, Ashleigh Davis, was the operations manager at PureScience Rx and was a licensed pharmacy technician.

Following an 11-day trial, a jury convicted the defendants of orchestrating a Medicare fraud scheme involving illegal kickbacks and medically unnecessary prescription drugs, largely tied to purported "footbath" treatments. Evidence showed the defendants paid marketers illegal commissions based on Medicare reimbursements in exchange for prescriptions generated through telehealth encounters that never involved legitimate medical examinations. The kickbacks were concealed through sham contracts and fabricated invoices falsely portraying the payments as hourly compensation.

Trial evidence further established that telemarketing call centers targeted Medicare beneficiaries and secured agreement to receive expensive medications regardless of medical need. Many prescriptions were fraudulently issued using the stolen identities of nurse practitioners. The defendants then billed Medicare as though the prescriptions were medically necessary and based on proper evaluations. Expert testimony confirmed, however, the drugs-particularly those ordered to be used in footbaths-were not FDA-approved or supported by recognized medical compendia for such use. Medicare ultimately paid more than $4.9 million on the fraudulent claims.

"Medicare exists to care for patients-not to bankroll sham prescriptions and kickback schemes disguised as medical treatment," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.

"The FBI prioritizes Medicare fraud and meticulously investigates anyone trying to scam the United States Government and its taxpayers," said TJ Holland, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office. "Today's conviction is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of FBI San Diego's healthcare fraud team and our law enforcement partners at HHS-OIG to holding fraudsters accountable."

The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2026.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blanca Quintero and George Manahan of the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of California. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie Chu contributed significantly to the case.

DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr01229-LL

Cindy Justice Age: 70 Melbourne, Florida

Ashleigh Davis Age: 41 Melbourne, Florida

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud and Pay Unlawful Remuneration-Title 18, U.S.C. Section 371

Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine

Health Care Fraud-Title 18, U.S.C. Section 1347

Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine (Conspiracy to Commit Health Care

Payment of Unlawful Remuneration - Title 42, U.S.C. Section 1320-7d

Maximum penalty: Four years in prison and $250,000 fine (Payment of Unlawful Remuneration)

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)