OMAHA, Neb. -- A northeast Nebraska pharmacy owner is facing a five-count federal indictment related to an alleged fraud scheme.

According to an unsealed indictment, 47-year-old Danelle Charf, is accused of defrauding Medicare and Nebraska Medicaid of at least $573,337.53 for her own personal gain over a five year period starting in 2016.

Charf owned and operated Wanek Pharmacy in Neligh and Tilden Pharmacy in Tilden during that period of time. Charf purchased the Tilden Pharmacy in 2018, taking over the previous Hoffman Pharmacy in June of that year. Charf split her time between the two pharmacies.

According to investigators, Charf would fill prescriptions at the two pharmacies with the generic version of medications and then submit claims to healthcare benefit programs seeking reimbursement for the more expensive brand-name versions of the medications.

The unsealed indictment included charges related to investigation during the period of October 7, 2020 to January 11, 2021. The cases involved prescriptions for Symbicort and Advair.

If convicted, Charf would face up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release and a $100 special assessment for each charge.

The U.S. Attorney's Office requested that the trial be held in the federal courthouse in Omaha.