NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Julia C. Dudley Acting United States Attorney Brian McGinn Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2974 FAX (540) 857-2179 |
October 28, 2008
RICHLANDS DOCTOR CHARGED WITH DRUG CONSPIRACY,
POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS BY MISREPRESENTATION
Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley announced today that Roy C. Gomez, age 65, of Richlands, Virginia, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon, on charges that he obtained controlled substances by misrepresentation and fraud.
Gomez was charged with 33 counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraud and deception and one count of attempting to obtain controlled substances by fraud. Each count carries a maximum sentence of imprisonment for a term of four years and a fine of $250,000.
“Medical professionals who use their knowledge of the medical system and their positions of power for personal gain must be prosecuted for their actions,” Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley said today. “This office will not turn a blind eye to doctors who violate the very system they took an oath to protect.”
According to the indictment, Gomez, a licensed physician, acquired and obtained possession of Androgel (testosterone gel) and Testred (methyltestosterone) by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery and deception.
One of the counts alleges that Gomez authorized a prescription for Androgel in the name of another individual with the intent that Gomez himself would possess the Androgel.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Virginia State Police, the Richlands Police Department, the Bristol Virginia Police Department, the Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer is prosecuting the case for the United States.
A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.