Toms River, NJ, Woman Charged With Unlicensed Practice of Medicine

A Toms River woman has been arrested and charged for allegedly pretending to be a doctor who was working out of an office on Route 37.

62-year-old Maria F. Macburnie, also known as Marife L. Macburnie, has been charged with the following:

• Practicing medicine by an unlicensed person
• Forgery
• Healthcare claims fraud
• 3 counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office says that between March 2022 and June 2023, Macburnie was seeing and treating patients while posing as a licensed medical practitioner, working out of Shore Medical Associates at 601 Route 37 West in Toms River.

Macburnie presented herself as Dr. Fe Almazon-Condit - a relative of Macburnie’s with an active license to practice medicine. During this time frame, Macburnie was prescribing medications, including controlled dangerous substances, to patients.

Further investigation revealed that Macburnie allegedly issued multiple prescriptions written under the name of Dr. Almazon-Condit and she submitted multiple insurance claims and bills for services rendered during time periods when Dr. Almazon-Condit was unable to see and treat patients.

On Wednesday, Macburnie was taken into custody without incident. She is presently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

If you were a patient

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer urges anyone who believes they were seen and/or treated by Macburnie to contact Det. Joseph Mitchell at (732) 929-2027.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.