By William Thornton
U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Brian Bowman, 42, of Gadsden, to eight years, while Jason Max Akin, 46, of Florence, received a sentence of three-and-a-half years.
Bowman pleaded guilty in December 2021 to conspiracy related to health care fraud tied to his work at Dr. Mark Murphy’s medical practice, North Alabama Pain Services. In May 2023, Akin admitted guilt in connection with fraud at Watson Rx Solutions.
According to Bowman’s plea agreement, he marketed electro-diagnostic testing to various medical providers, including Dr. Murphy, receiving kickbacks for each test ordered. He reportedly amassed nearly a million dollars in kickbacks from QBR, an electro-diagnostic testing company based in Huntsville. Additionally, Bowman promoted high-reimbursing specialty prescription drugs and earned payments for the prescriptions he generated.
Mark Murphy, 66, and his wife Jennifer, 66, both from Lewisburg, Tennessee, were found guilty of drug distribution and related fraud and kickback crimes. Their practice, North Alabama Pain Services, closed its Decatur and Madison offices in early 2017.
Akin, who was a part-owner and pharmacy technician at Watson Rx, facilitated sales operations and paid Bowman and his team to generate specialty drug prescriptions billed to health insurance plans. He also paid urine collectors employed by Bowman’s lab company to collect samples at doctor’s offices and promote Watson Rx prescriptions to patients.
“These crimes cost taxpayer-funded insurance programs millions and exploited vulnerable patients in north Alabama,” stated U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. “The sentences send a vital message: health care fraud and kickbacks are serious crimes and will not be tolerated. Thanks to our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their diligent work on this case.”