Former Oskaloosa pharmacist Jay Parker was sentenced Friday to a year in prison but then placed on probation for his involvement in a Medicaid fraud scheme.

In October, Parker pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud in Jefferson County District Court. As part of his plea agreement, Parker paid $75,000 in restitution to the Kansas Medicaid program. Parker’s probation term will run for 12 months.

The 63-year-old Parker, a 1962 graduate of Tonganoxie High School, owned and operated Parker’s Pharmacy in Oskaloosa.

In November, the Kansas Board of Pharmacy revoked Parker’s pharmaceutical license as well as that of his pharmacy. In addition, the regulatory agency fined Parker about $33,000.

According to the Kansas attorney general’s office, Parker wrote false prescriptions for Medicaid beneficiaries. He used those false prescriptions to bill the state’s Medicaid program $75,000.

He never filled the prescriptions or provided the medications to Medicaid beneficiaries. This occurred between 2003 and 2006.

Under the terms of his probation, Judge Michael Ireland ordered Parker to maintain his pharmacy’s records for five years, in case they are needed in other investigations.

During the sentencing hearing, Rex Beasley, a deputy attorney general, said other investigations were ongoing.

According to findings from the Kansas Board of Pharmacy, board inspector James Kinderknecht provided documentation from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas that identified 21 members who allegedly were billed for 61 medications not dispensed by Parker.

Before sentencing Parker, Ireland philosophized about people who commit crimes.

“The court has long believed that there are three types of criminals,” Ireland said. “There are the outlaws who go to prison, there are the folks who have been in and out of the system enough that it’s time to go to jail, and there are good people who do something stupid without violence.”

Ireland looked at Parker.

“I think No. 3 fits you, Mr. Parker,” Ireland said. “You’re a good person. You just did something stupid.”