A Jim Thorpe pharmacy owner has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Scranton, to charges that he defrauded pharmaceutical drug manufacturers by filing false claims for reimbursement.

John J. Roman, 36, of Hazleton, must reimburse the firms over a half-million dollars ($528,964).He also must serve 21 months in prison, be on probation for three years after release from jail, and pay an assessment fee of $100.Judge Richard P. Conaboy also ordered that he surrender a building he owns - where his "Community Pharmacy" was located - at 30 River Street in Jim Thorpe; his 2008 Corvette, and about $175,000 in currency which is in an escrow account.He pleaded guilty to mail fraud and criminal forfeiture, with the fraudulent activity occurring from April 26, 2006 to Feb. 25, 2009.Also involved in the case was Dr. Andrew Dancha of Jim Thorpe, who pleaded guilty in Carbon County Court April to one count of prescription drug marketing fraud for selling promotional drug samples furnished to his office at Roman's pharmacy.He also pleaded guilty in June in district court to federal charges of drug marketing fraud. His sentencing is scheduled on Jan. 11.Court records state that Roman devised a scheme to get reimbursed for drugs obtained by "fictitious customers/patients, electronically over the internet, who were reportedly prescribed medications" by Dr. Dancha.Under the scheme, prescription drug coupon/voucher programs are offered by drug manufacturers as a way to increase product exposure by giving patients a single "free" two to three week supply of a needed prescription.Patients obtain this "free trial" by printing a coupon from the drug manufacturer's Web site or by asking their doctor for a voucher available at a medical office.In both instances, state court records claim the patients must obtain a valid prescription from their physician.The patient presents the voucher and prescription to a pharmacist and the medication is dispensed free to the customer.The pharmacist then submits electronically over the internet a reimbursement claim to a third party, located in California.Roman downloaded coupon vouchers and submitted fraudulent claims for the reimbursements for the fictitious customers/patients through prescriptions from Dr. Dancha.