On November 14, 2011, the Kerrville Police Department (KPD) Special Crimes Unit, assisted by the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, the 216th District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Medicare Fraud Unit, and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, arrested Dr. Richard DeBenedetto, and Tina DeBenedetto, for Prescription Fraud. Dr. DeBenedetto is the operator of Med Express at two locations, one each in Kerrville and Ingram.
Seven months ago, the KPD Special Crimes Unit initiated an investigation into the alleged illegal activities of Dr. DeBenedetto and his wife Tina. KPD SCU notified DEA Diversion in San Antonio and DEA joined the investigation along with a member of the FBI’s Medicare Fraud Unit from San Antonio. As a result of this investigation, DeBenedetto, a medical doctor, has been charged in the 216th State District Court with 6 felony counts of unlawfully prescribing pharmaceutical controlled substances, including the Schedule III prescription drug Hydrocodone. Likewise, Tina DeBenedetto was similarly charged on two felony counts. Following the arrests, two search warrants were executed at the two Kerrville Med Express locations; one in the 800 BLK of Main St, Kerrville and in the 3300 BLK Junction Hwy, Ingram TX.
Dr. DeBenedetto was served with six 3rd degree felony arrest warrants with bonds totaling $475,000 and Tina DeBenedetto (spouse) was served with two 3rd degree felony arrest warrants with bonds totaling $125,000. Tina DeBenedetto was already in custody at the Kerr County Jail on unrelated charges. Dr. DeBenedetto was also taken to the Kerr County Jail.
If found guilty of the charges, Dr. DeBenedetto and Tina DeBenedetto each face confinement of not more than 10 and not less than 2 years and a fine of up to $10,000 on each count.
“The investigation and arrest of persons engaging in the illegal distribution of controlled substances and illegal prescribing of prescription drugs will continue to be a priority of KPD and our law enforcement partners,” said KPD Captain Jeffrey Wendling. Wendling added that “this investigation was a combined effort by four investigative agencies in concert with the 216th District Attorney’s Office and is an example of the team work that exists in our law community that works so hard to keep our community safe.”