Michael W. Luehrsen, a 41-year-old resident of Miami, Florida, has pleaded guilty to perjury in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. Acting U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti announced that Luehrsen's plea could result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, Luehrsen will pay approximately $2 million in restitution and forfeit around $2 million in assets.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Grace Carducci are handling the case. They revealed that Luehrsen gave false testimony under oath during his February 2022 jury trial regarding his whereabouts on specific dates in 2014.
During the trial, Luehrsen claimed he was not in town when certain prescriptions were faxed from his father's home, which was a critical detail related to charges of conspiring to commit health care fraud. He stated he was visiting Cornerstone Pharmacy in California on June 27, 2014, and Boston on July 11, 2014.
However, evidence from Luehrsen's phone contradicted this testimony, showing he was actually in Buffalo on July 11, 2014. Telephone and financial records further confirmed his presence there at that time.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to Luehrsen's plea under Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia's direction.
Sentencing is set for June 27, 2025, before Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.