Authorities in Ocean County, New Jersey, apprehended a 62-year-old New Jersey woman from Toms River, identified as Maria F. Macburnie (also known as Marife L. Macburnie), for engaging in illegal medical practices, including posing as a licensed doctor, treating patients, and issuing prescriptions. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced her arrest on Thursday, citing charges that include practicing medicine without a valid license, forgery, health care fraud, and distributing dangerous substances.
Investigations revealed that Macburnie assumed the identity of a relative who possessed the necessary medical credentials. Attempts to contact this relative were unsuccessful, as the contact information online led to a medical office affiliated with Macburnie, which, according to an automated message, is now permanently closed. Macburnie’s use of the relative’s identity spanned from March 2022 to June 2023.
During this period, Macburnie wrote multiple prescriptions under her relative’s name, in addition to submitting insurance claims and billing patients for services, even during times when the genuine relative was unavailable to attend to patients. The specific medications prescribed by Macburnie were not mentioned in the prosecutor’s statement.
The arrest took place on Wednesday, and Macburnie was subsequently booked into the Ocean County Department of Corrections facility. Information regarding her current status, whether she has been released, or if she has legal representation was not immediately available at the time of the report. The local public defender’s office did not respond to requests for comments.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have been treated by or interacted with Macburnie to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation. The patients who utilized the Toms River office frequented by Macburnie are advised, through an automated phone greeting, to email their requests for medical records.
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The investigation involved the cooperation of several agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the economic crimes unit of the prosecutor’s office, and the Toms River Township Police Department. Toms River, situated on the Jersey Shore, is located approximately 60 miles east of Philadelphia.