Passaic Sheriff: Scam Got Clifton Woman, Associate Prescription Drugs

PATERSON, N.J. -- A former patient of a Paterson pain management clinic pretended to be an employee there to obtain prescription pain killers for herself and another woman, Passaic County Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik said.

Amaal Abuhabdeh, Melanie Madigan
Photo Credit: *MUGSHOTS: Courtesy PASSAIC COUNTY SHERIFF*

Jerry DeMarco

09/15/2016 8:35 a.m.

Detectives from Berdnik's Criminal Investigation Division arrested Amaal Abuhabdeh, 32, of Clifton and Melanie Madigan, 19, of North Brunswick at the Stop & Shop on Kingsland Avenue in Clifton after they filed a bogus prescription for Tramadol, the sheriff said.

Surveillance footage from several pharmacies showed them doing the same there, he said.

Using the first name of a former employee of the pain management office, Abuhabdeh called in the scripts under Madigan's name, as well as those of family members, at least 15 times beginning in July, Berdnik said.

Both women were charged with health care fraud and possessing prescription drugs through fraud. Abuhabdeh also was charged with forgery.

They were released pending court appearances.

A investigation was continuing and additional charges were possible, the sheriff said.

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