Overland Park

Kansas resident tapped to lead S.D. college

James T. Barry of Overland Park has been appointed president of Mount Marty College in Yankton, S.D.

He replaces Mark Hurturbise, who resigned in spring 2001.

Barry is vice president of development at People to People International in Kansas City.

He previously was an administrator at colleges in Missouri and Iowa.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Pharmacist pleads to defrauding Medicare

A Kansas City pharmacist has admitted falsely billing Missouri’s Medicaid program more than $29,000 for drugs that were never dispensed.

Louie A. Ferro Jr., 50, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Jackson County court to 22 counts of Medicaid fraud.

According to the indictment returned by a Jackson County jury in April 2001, Ferro provided false statements to the Medicaid program between May 2000 and February 2001. Ferro owns a pharmacy in Kansas City.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 6. He faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine on each count.