Former WNY man pleads guilty to perjury in fraud trial

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Miami man, who is formerly of Western New York, pleaded guilty to perjury for lying while testifying during his fraud trial in February 2022, the United States Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

At the time of his testimony, 41-year-old Michael Luehrsen was being tried for conspiring to commit health care fraud, among other crimes.

According to an August 2021 indictment, Luehrsen, who was a pharmaceutical sales representative at the time, started marketing “compounded medications” with others. Prosecutors said the medications were not tailored to the individuals’ needs, but contained ingredients with high reimbursement rates from health insurers.

Luehrsen testified that he was out of town when prescriptions were faxed and said on June 27, 2014, he was in California visiting a pharmacy with two physicians and on July 11, 2014, he was in Boston, Massachusetts, officials said.

Evidence from his phone, along with financial records, showed Luehrsen’s testimony was false and that on July 11, 2014, he was in Buffalo. Officials said whether Luehrsen was in Buffalo or not at the time was relevant to the case because a compound prescription form was faxed from his father’s home in the Western District of New York.

Luehrsen agreed to pay about $2 million in restitution and forfeit about $2 million in assets, which include investments and real estate proceeds, as a part of his plea.

The charge of perjury carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for June 27.

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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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