Totowa Animal Hospital, Totowa, NJ
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Alia Muslih, age 41 of Montclair, New Jersey, Yaser I. Abdel-Fatah, age 50 of Buffalo, New York, and Marco A. Gamarra, age 64 of Bronx, New York have been indicted for a combined seventy-seven counts under Indictment No. 23-04-00376-I. The various counts of the indictment include charges of Second-Degree Possession and Distribution of Prescription Drugs and Controlled Substances; Third-Degree Obtaining a Prescription Drug by Forgery; Second-Degree Theft by Deception; Third-Degree Forgery; Second-Degree Healthcare Claims Fraud; Second-Degree Insurance Fraud; SecondDegree Misconduct by a Corporate Official; Second-Degree and Third-Degree Impersonation; Second-Degree Money Laundering; Third-Degree Failure to File and Pay Tax; and Third-Degree and Fourth-Degree Animal Cruelty.
In July of 2021, an individual reported to the Totowa Police Department after her dog had died following a routine spay appointment at Totowa Animal Hospital. Shortly thereafter, the Totowa Police Department notified the PCPO White Collar Crimes Division who in turn opened an investigation. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that upon the death of Ms. Muslih’s husband she continued to illegally operate the Totowa Animal Hospital from December 2020 through August 2021 without a licensed veterinarian on staff. Further, it was learned that Mr. Abdel-Fatah and Mr. Gamarra were holding themselves out as veterinarians in the course of their employment at the hospital, during which time they conducted surgical procedures and medical treatment on animals.
The sentencing exposure on the second-degree offenses is five to ten years in New Jersey State Prison, on the third-degree offenses it is three to five years in New Jersey State Prison, and on the fourth degree offenses it is up to eighteen months in New Jersey State Prison.
Ms. Muslih, Mr. Abdel-Fatah and Mr. Gamarra are currently on pretrial release pending the disposition of this case. An arraignment will be scheduled on a date and time to be determined by the Court.
A criminal indictment is merely an accusation. Despite the accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident or other incidents regarding these individuals to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370- PCPO.