A former psychiatric nurse practitioner was sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding health care programs and illegally prescribing amphetamines, federal prosecutors said.
Anja Salamack, 50, of Delray Beach, Florida — and formerly of Albany — also received one year of home detention and was ordered to pay over $160,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to health care fraud and unlawful drug distribution.
According to prosecutors, Salamack claimed to be practicing in Albany while living in Florida and billed for therapy sessions and medical services she never performed. She caused nearly $164,000 in losses by submitting false claims to health benefit programs.
She also admitted to prescribing Adderall — a controlled substance — 108 times to a person who hadn’t been her patient since 2016. Prosecutors say she did so at the request of that person’s relative, violating federal law and professional standards.
U.S. District Judge Ann M. Nardacci also ordered Salamack to pay a $10,000 fine, serve two years of supervised release after her prison term, and surrender her DEA registration, which had allowed her to prescribe controlled substances.
In a separate civil settlement, Salamack agreed to pay $188,850 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act. She admitted submitting false claims to Medicare for unrendered psychotherapy and misusing $48,670 in Provider Relief Funds that were meant for COVID-related expenses.
“This medical professional abused the privilege of providing care to others,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “Now she will pay the price for it.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said Salamack’s actions were “no different from those of any drug trafficker” and could have long-lasting consequences for the people involved.
The case was part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. In total, 324 defendants were charged nationwide in schemes involving over $14.6 billion in false billings and more than 15.6 million pills of diverted drugs.
The investigation was led by the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad, with assistance from multiple state and federal agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph S. Hartunian, Michael Barnett, and Christopher R. Moran handled the criminal and civil cases.
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