Name:

MACH, Philip, MD

City, State:

New Brunswick, NJ

Date of Arrest:

08/31/2005

Date of Conviction:

05/10/2007

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to distribute and dispense, and aiding and abetting the unlawful distribution and dispensing of, controlled substances

DEA Registration:

Retired

Remarks:

Phillip Mach, MD, age 49, of New Brunswick, NJ, pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and dispense, and aiding and abetting the unlawful distribution and dispensing of, controlled substances by means that were outside of the usual course of professional medical practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.

According to court documents, Mach was a physician licensed to practice medicine by the State of New Jersey with offices in New Brunswick. Mach entered into an agreement with Xpress Pharmacy Direct, located in Minnesota, to provide prescriptions to online customers.

Mach was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, and assessed a $200.00 criminal monetary penalty.

Name:

MANFREDONIA, SERAPHIN J., MD

City, State:

North Palm Beach, FL

Date of Arrest:

10/20/2006

Date of Conviction:

02/05/2007

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Distributing and dispensing controlled substances

DEA Registration:

Retired 04/24/2006

Remarks:

Seraphin J. Manfredonia, MD, age 78, of North Palm Beach, FL, pled guilty in federal court to four counts of distributing and dispensing controlled substances. According to court documents, Manfredonia knowingly and intentionally distributed and dispensed, and caused to be distributed and dispensed, a mixture and substance containing detectable amounts of Schedule II - IV controlled substances, including Roxicodone, Methadone, Percocet, Dilaudid, Lorcet, Xanax, and Valium, outside the course of professional practice.

Manfredonia was sentenced to probation for a term of three (3) years, participation in the Home Confinement Program for one year, and ordered to pay a fine of $12,500 and an assessment of $400.

Name:

MARTINEZ, Estrella, MD

City, State:

Albany, NY

Date of Arrest:

11/30/2006

Date of Conviction:

05/08/2007

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Criminal possession of a controlled substance

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 11/29/2006

Remarks:

Estrella Martinez, MD, age 49, of Colonie, NY, pled guilty in Albany City Court, to criminal possession of a controlled substance.

According to court documents, Martinez ordered and possessed hydrocodone tablets without a valid NY medical license.

Martinez was sentenced to 3 years probation and ordered to pay a surcharge of $160.

Name:

MARTINEZ, Jorge A., MD

City, State:

Boardman, OH

Date of Arrest:

9/13/2004

Date of Conviction:

06/14/2006

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Healthcare fraud resulting in death; Distribution of controlled substances

DEA Registration:

Retired 08/31/2006

Remarks:

Jorge A. Martinez, MD, age 56, of Boardman, OH, was found guilty by a federal jury on two counts of healthcare fraud resulting in death; twenty-one additional counts of healthcare fraud; ten counts of wire fraud; fifteen counts of mail fraud; and eight counts of distribution of controlled substances. According to court documents, from 1998 to September 2004, Martinez submitted false bills to insurance plans for injections and office visits. The jury found that the defendant’s health care fraud scheme resulted in the deaths of two insurance beneficiaries. The jury also found the defendant guilty of drug trafficking in OxyContin (oxycodone), a Schedule II controlled substance.

Martinez was sentenced to life in federal prison and ordered to pay an assessment of $5,600. Martinez has filed an appeal which is pending.

Name:

MARTINEZ, Rogelio, MD

City, State:

Pensacola, FL

Date of Arrest:

2/14/2008

Date of Conviction:

4/1/2009

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substance

DEA Registration:

Suspended 2/27/2008

Remarks:

Rogelio Martinez, MD, age 69, of Pensacola, FL, pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance.

Martinez was sentenced to 72 months incarceration, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Martinez was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.

Name:

MARSHALL, Harold, MD

City, State:

Dallas, TX

Date of Arrest:

9/12/2007

Date of Conviction:

06/25/2008

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Fraudulent Delivery of a Prescription Form

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 09/07/2007

Remarks:

Harold Marshall, MD, age 45, of Dallas, TX, pled guilty to three counts of Fraudulent Delivery of a Controlled Substance, to wit: clonazepam..

According to the court documents, Marshall intentionally and knowingly delivered a prescription and prescription form to a patient without a valid medical purpose in the course of professional practice.

The adjudication of guilty was deferred and Marshall was placed on 10 years probation and ordered to complete 160 hours of community service.

Name:

MAYNARD, Paul V., MD

City, State:

Charlotte Amalie, VI

Date of Arrest:

09/18/2003

Date of Conviction:

02/15/2007

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Distributing and Dispensing Schedule II and III Controlled Substances

DEA Registration:

Expired 01/31/2008

Remarks:

Paul Maynard, MD, age 55, of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, was convicted on four counts Distributing and Dispensing Schedule II and III Controlled Substances (namely: Percocet, Percodan, and Vicodin ES).

According to court documents, Maynard distributed and dispensed controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of acceptable medical practice.

Maynard was sentenced to seven months incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, Maynard was ordered to forfeit his medical office.

Name:

MAZUR, Richard A., MD

City, State:

Pass Christian, MS

Date of Arrest:

07/07/2004

Date of Conviction:

06/20/2005

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Dispensing a controlled substance for an unlawful purpose

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 07/07/2004

Remarks:

Richard R. Mazur, MD, age 52, of Pass Christian, MS, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of dispensing a controlled substance for an unlawful purpose. Mazur was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and ordered to pay an assessment of $100.

Name:

MCARTHUR III, William Frank, MD

City, State:

Jesup, GA

Date of Arrest:

11/15/2006

Date of Conviction:

01/16/20098

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; money laundering conspiracy

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 09/12/2006

Remarks:

William Frank McArthur III, MD, age 40, of Jesup, GA, pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas - Dallas Division, to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to launder money.

According to court documents, McArthur operated a call center to "approve" drug orders and conduct "consultations" with Internet customers who had completed an online questionnaire explaining the customers’ need for the controlled substances they were ordering. McArthur knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with others to distribute hydrocodone (Schedule III), phentermine (Schedule IV), and alprazolam (Schedule IV) outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. When approving the online drug orders, McArthur did not physically examine or observe any Internet customer or verify any personal or medical information provided by the customer.

McArthur also pled guilty to having knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with others to attempt to conduct, conduct, and cause to be conducted, financial transactions affecting interstate commerce, that is, the wire transfer of funds totaling $1,136,150, with the intent to promote an unlawful activity, and knowing that the funds represented proceeds derived from the unlawful activity, that is, the distribution of controlled pharmaceuticals outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.

McArthur was sentenced to prison for a term of 30 months followed by supervised release for two years, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $200.

Name:

McIVER, Ronald Allen, DO

City, State:

Hodges, SC

Date of Arrest:

08-26-2004

Date of Conviction:

09/19/2005

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Distribution and dispensing of controlled substances outside the usual course of medical practice

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 04-12-2004

Remarks:

Ronald A. McIver, DO, age 64, of Hodges, SC, was found guilty in federal court on nine counts of distribution and dispensing of controlled substances outside the usual course of medical practice. On three of the nine counts, McIver was found guilty of distribution of controlled substances resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

McIver received a sentence of 360 months in prison, to be followed by five years supervised release, and fined a $900.00 special assessment.

Name:

McNEIL, Apryl Mamzette, MD

City, State:

New York, NY

Date of Arrest:

07/28/2005

Date of Conviction:

04/21/2006

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule III and IV controlled substances and Conspiracy to Launder Money

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 05/02/2006

Remarks:

Apryl Mamzette McNeil, MD, age 44, of New York City, NY, pled guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute schedule III and IV controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to launder money.

According to court records, between November 2003 and May 2004, McNeil authorized at least 220,090 dosage units of Schedule III controlled substances and 15, 510 dosage units of Schedule IV controlled substances via the internet. Said prescriptions were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of a practitioner’s professional practice.

McNeil was sentenced to 20 months in prison, two years supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $26,960.00.

Name:

MERRILL, Thomas, DO

City, State:

Apalachicola, FL

Date of Arrest:

08/09/2005

Date of Conviction:

07/10/2006

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Unlawful dispensing of controlled substances resulting in death; fraud

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 05/07/2004

Remarks:

Thomas G. Merrill, MD, age 72, of Apalachicola, FL, was found guilty by a federal jury on eighteen counts of wire fraud; five counts of defrauding health care benefit programs, including two counts that charged that death resulted from the violation; and 75 counts of dispensing or distributing controlled substances including oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone, fentanyl, alprazolam, and diazepam, including four counts that charged that death resulted from the use of the drugs.

Between January 2000 and May of 2004, Merrill wrote prescriptions for controlled substances without conducting any physical examination and without determining a sufficient medical necessity for the prescription of controlled substances. Merrill directed patients to have their prescriptions filled at specific pharmacies and warned them against filling their prescriptions at pharmacies that would ask too many questions about the quantity and combination of controlled substances prescribed.

Merrill was convicted for prescribing controlled substances to abusers and addicts outside the course of standard medical practice. The trial jury found that Merrill’s actions resulted in the deaths of five of his patients. The evidence at trial revealed that Merrill, a licensed osteopathic physician, prescribed excessive and inappropriate quantities and combinations of controlled substances to patients and failed to monitor their use and abuse of the prescribed controlled substances.

Merrill was sentenced to life imprisonment on the charges that his actions resulted in death. He was also sentenced to concurrent twenty, ten, and five year terms of imprisonment on the remaining 92 counts.

Name:

MICKLESON, Dennis L., MD

City, State:

Palmer, AK

Date of Arrest:

12/01/2006

Date of Conviction:

02/09/2007

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Unlawful possession of a controlled substance

DEA Registration:

Retired 09/30/2006

Remarks:

Dennis Lynn Mickleson, MD, age 57, of Palmer, AK, pled guilty in federal court to one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. According to court documents, Mickleson knowingly and intentionally possessed a controlled substance which was not obtained directly or pursuant to a valid prescription or order.

Mickleson was sentenced to probation for a term of three (3) years and ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 and an assessment of $25.

Name:

MILLETTE, Michael J., MD

City, State:

Crystal Lake, IL

Date of Arrest:

07/14/2006

Date of Conviction:

01/11/2007

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances without legitimate medical purpose; conspiracy to launder money

DEA Registration:

Revoked 05/02/2005

Remarks:

Michael J. Millette, MD, age 46, of Crystal Lake, IL, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute Schedule III and IV controlled substances and conspiracy to launder money.

According to court documents, Millette obtained $1.6 million in drug proceeds from authorizing at least 61,202,400 dosage units of Schedule III controlled substances and at least 1,446,810 dosage units of Schedule IV controlled substances via the internet. Said prescriptions were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of a practitioner’s professional practice.

Millette was sentenced to forty-one (41) months imprisonment followed by two (2) years supervised release. Millette was also ordered to forfeit $1.6 million.

Name:

MIRZA, Sarfraz Ahmed, MD

City, State:

Melbourne, FL

Date of Arrest:

06/26/2007

Date of Conviction:

02/19/2008

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Trafficking in oxycodone (14 to 28 grams)

DEA Registration:

Retired 11/30/2004

Remarks:

Sarfraz Ahmed Mirza, MD, age 65, of Melbourne, FL, pled guilty in Brevard County court to one count of trafficking in oxycodone (14 to 28 grams). Mirza was sentenced to community control for two years followed by state probation for a term of five years and ordered to pay $321.

Name:

MOLMENTI, Luis A., MD

City, State:

Plymouth, MA

Date of Arrest:

2/28/2005

Date of Conviction:

4/21/2005

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Health care fraud

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 7/5/2005

Remarks:

Luis A. Molmenti, MD, age 41, of Plymouth, MA, pled guilty to one count of health care fraud. According to Molmenti’s plea agreement with the government, from February, 2003 to August, 2004, Molmenti wrote prescriptions for OxyContin in the name of other individuals, who filled the prescriptions and mailed the drugs back to him for his personal use.

Molmenti was sentenced to 24 months probation. He was also ordered to pay $1,877.15 in restitution to the Maryland Health Insurance Partnership, perform 100 hours of community service and pay a $100.00 special assessment fee.

Name:

MORGAN, Breton Lee, MD

City, State:

Point Pleasant, WV

Date of Arrest:

09/12/2006

Date of Conviction:

03/12/2007

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Obtaining a Schedule III Controlled Substance by Fraud

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 04/07/2006

Remarks:

Breton Lee Morgan, MD, age 46, of Point Pleasant, WV, pled guilty in federal court to one count of obtaining a Schedule III controlled substance by fraud.

According to court documents, Morgan knowingly and intentionally acquired and obtained possession of a quantity of hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance, from a pharmaceutical company by misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge.

Morgan was sentenced to thirty days in prison followed by three months supervised home detention and fined $5,000.

Name:

MOSS, Joe P., MD

City, State:

Franklin, TN

Date of Arrest:

12/22/2004

Date of Conviction:

04/13/2007

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Health care fraud and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 02/23/2001

Remarks:

Joe P. Moss, MD, age 64, of Franklin, TN was a licensed physician in Williamson County. According to court documents, on June 16, 2005, Moss was placed on five years probation by the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Tennessee following his pleas of guilty to obtaining controlled substances by fraud and submitting false and fraudulent dispensing records to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Both charges were felonies.

While on probation, Moss was prohibited from possessing firearms or other dangerous weapons. Because of his felony convictions, Moss’s medical license was suspended by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Moss was also excluded from participating in Medicare and Medicaid and could not bill Medicare or Medicaid for patients he treated, nor could he cause claims to be submitted for a medical practice he owned, operated, or administered.

During a home visit to Moss by the U.S. Probation Office, it was discovered that Moss was in possession of numerous dangerous weapons and ammunition. It was also later established that Moss saw and treated patients at his medical offices in Franklin, TN. Moss documented his treatment of patients in some of the patient charts, sometimes forging the initials of another physician as the treating physician. Moss also caused prescriptions to be filled and refilled for patients he had treated. Some of the patients Moss treated were covered by Medicare and/or Medicaid. Moss caused claims to be submitted to Medicare and/or Medicaid for services rendered by a physician’s assistant and nurse practitioner who treated patients at Moss’s medical practice.

Moss pled guilty in federal court to health care fraud and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to eighteen months incarceration followed by three years of supervised probation and ordered to pay $13,796.10 in restitution.

Name:

MUDD, Kenneth, MD

City, State:

Louisville, KY

Date of Arrest:

07/20/2004

Date of Conviction:

10/24/2005

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Trafficking in prescription blanks for controlled substances, prohibited activities

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 07/22/2004

Remarks:

Kenneth Mudd, MD, age 32, of Louisville, KY, pled guilty in state court to trafficking in prescription blanks for controlled substances and prohibited activities. Mudd was employed at the University of Louisville’s department of obstetrics and gynecology.

Mudd was sentenced to three years imprisonment, to serve probated for five years.

Name:

MUKHERJEE, Mukunda D., MD

City, State:

Flint, MI

Date of Arrest:

06/29/2004

Date of Conviction:

02/03/2006

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance

DEA Registration:

Expired 1/31/2006

Remarks:

Mukunda Mukherjee, MD, age 64, of Flint, MI, was convicted on February 3, 2006 by a federal jury on 44 counts of unlawful distribution of Schedule II and Schedule III controlled substances. According to the court records, from April, 2001 to June, 2004, Mukherjee wrote numerous prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose. The trial judge described Mukherjee's office as "effectively a prescription mill with addicts coming from out-of-state to get prescriptions."

Mukherjee was sentenced to a total of 328 years imprisonment and was ordered to forfeit approximately $170,000 in assets.

Name:

MYERS, Michael Frank, MD

City, State:

Greenville, SC

Date of Arrest:

12/28/2006

Date of Conviction:

05/23/2007

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Conspiracy to, and distribution of, Schedule I, III, and IV controlled substances

DEA Registration:

Retired 07/03/2007

Remarks:

Michael F. Myers, MD, age 53, of Greenville, SC, was found guilty by a federal jury on 30 felony counts. These included one count of conspiracy to knowingly, intentionally, and unlawfully possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance; one count of maintaining a place for the purpose of distributing and using marijuana; 25 counts of distributing and dispensing Schedule III controlled pharmaceuticals; and three counts of distributing and dispensing a Schedule IV controlled pharmaceutical.

Myers was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for a term of three years, and ordered to pay an assessment of $3,000.

Name:

MYERS, Sanford Kent, MD

City, State:

Knoxville, TN

Date of Arrest:

12/19/2006

Date of Conviction:

11/24/2008

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 12/28/2006

Remarks:

Sanford K. Myers, MD, age 54, of Knoxville, TN, pled guilty in federal court to one count of knowingly, intentionally, and without authority conspiring to possess with intent to distribute OxyContin, a Schedule II controlled substance. According to court documents, Myers was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity involving five or more people that resulted in illegal prescriptions totaling over 30,000 80mg OxyContin pills. Myers would write prescriptions in the names of several individuals with whom he did not have a doctor-patient relationship and for whom none of the prescriptions were medically necessary. The prescriptions would be filled and the OxyContin tablets sold illegally. In return for writing the prescriptions, Myers received money and cocaine.

Myers was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for a term of three years, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.

Name:

NYAMEKYE, Absylom Kwabena, MD

City, State:

New York, NY

Date of Arrest:

07/28/2005

Date of Conviction:

04/21/2006

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule III and IV controlled substances and Conspiracy to Launder Money

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 05/02/2006

Remarks:

Absylom Kwabena Nyamekye, MD, age 39, of New York, New York, pled guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute schedule III and IV controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to launder money.

According to court records, between November 2003 and March 2004, Nyamekye authorized at least 357,330 dosage units of Schedule III controlled substances and 17,250 dosage units of Schedule IV controlled substances via the internet. Said prescriptions were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of a practitioner’s professional practice.

Nyamekye was sentenced to 20 months in prison, two years supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $36,286.00.

Name:

ODEGAARD, Barry N., MD

City, State:

Honolulu, HI

Date of Arrest:

04/03/2006

Date of Conviction:

10/10/2008

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Illegal distribution of oxycodone

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 04/12/2006

Remarks:

Barry N. Odegaard, MD, age 56, of Honolulu, HI, was found guilty in U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii, on five counts of illegal distribution of oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.

According to court documents, on five occasions from August 2004 to December 2004, Odegaard knowingly and intentionally distributed and dispensed oxycodone outside the course of professional medical practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.

Odegaard was sentenced to federal prison for a term of five years followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $500 and a fine of $12,500.

Name:

OPSAHL, Jon S., MD

City, State:

Colton, CA

Date of Arrest:

03/17/2006

Date of Conviction:

11/05/2007

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Misbranding drugs

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 03/18/2005

Remarks:

Jon S. Opsahl, MD, age 47, of Colton, CA, pled guilty in federal court to one count of misbranding drugs.

According to court documents, Opsahl did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally misbrand a drug which involved a quantity of hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance, in interstate commerce by issuing a prescription without having complied with the requisites for issuing a prescription in the State of Texas.

Opsahl was ordered to forfeit $100,000.

Name:

ORTENZIO, Louis, MD

City, State:

Blacksville, WV

Date of Arrest:

10/4/2005

Date of Conviction:

3/24/2006

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Health care fraud; Obtaining a controlled substance by fraud

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 10/6/2005

Remarks:

Louis Ortenzio, MD, age 53, of Blacksville, WV, pled guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. He was sentenced to five years probation, the first six months to be served on home detention. He was also ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service, and pay restitution in the amount of $213,680.24 to Medicaid and Medicare.

According to court records, Ortenzio submitted claims for services that were not rendered, and prepared a prescription in the name of another individual for hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance, to obtain the drugs for his own use.

Name:

OWENS, Guy, MD

City, State:

New Britain, CT

Date of Arrest:

05/01/2003

Date of Conviction:

04/18/2005

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Illegal prescription / distribution of a narcotic; sexual assault

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 04/02/2003

Remarks:

Guy Owens, MD, age 79, of New Britain, CT, pled guilty in the State of Connecticut Superior Court to two counts of illegal prescription / distribution of a narcotic and one count of sexual assault. Owens was investigated following receipt of a complaint from a patient that he was illegally prescribing narcotic controlled substances and had allegedly sexually assaulted her. She claimed she had been receiving prescriptions for controlled substances from Owens for several years and had become addicted to them. In recent visits, Owens had demanded sexual contact or he would not continue to write her prescriptions. Over a three-month period, the patient had not paid Owens but instead had unwillingly participated in sexual acts with him in return for the prescriptions.

Owens received a three year suspended prison sentence and three years probation.

Name:

PAGALILAUAN, Manuel, MD

City, State:

Bensalem, PA

Date of Arrest:

04/05/2007

Date of Conviction:

06/24/2008

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to distribute and distribution of controlled substances

DEA Registration:

Out of Business 10/31/2006

Remarks:

Manuel Pagalilauan, MD, age 64, of Bensalem, PA, pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and two counts of distribution of controlled substances.

According to court documents, Pagalilauan assisted in the operation of the Family Medical Center ("FMC") in Philadelphia, PA. Although it purported to be a medical clinic, FMC was in actuality a "pill mill" at which so-called patients ("customers") could, for a fee, obtain medical prescriptions for Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances without there being any medical necessity for these prescriptions. Pagalilauan allowed customers to obtain prescriptions under multiple false names as long as the customer initially provided some sort of identification in each false name so that FMC could establish a "patient file." Customers of FMC normally received no physical examination or any other medical care or treatment.

Pagalilauan was sentenced to prison for a term of nine months followed by supervised release for two years, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $300 and a fine of $1,500.

Name:

PARRIS, Lawrence L., MD

City, State:

Bothell, WA

Date of Arrest:

05/28/2008

Date of Conviction:

08/27/2008

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Unlawful possession of a controlled substance

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 05/27/2008

Remarks:

Lawrence L. Parris, MD, age 58, of Bothell, WA, pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, to one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

According to court documents, Parris unlawfully removed from a clinic where he worked and possessed for his own personal use, quantities of meperidine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in the form of injectible Demerol, which he then consumed. The drugs were not possessed by Parris pursuant to a lawful prescription. Parris hid his actions by making false entries in patient records indicating that the drugs had been administered to patients, whereas, in fact, they had been diverted to his own personal use.

Parris was sentenced to probation for a term of two years and ordered to pay a special assessment of $25 and a fine of $10,000.

Name:

PARSA, Bruce N., DO

City, State:

Kansas City, KS

Date of Arrest:

05/02/2003

Date of Conviction:

10/20/2003

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to distribute or dispense Schedule II controlled substances; use of an invalid registration

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 11-02-2001

Remarks:

Bruce N. Parsa, DO, age 40, of Kansas City, KS, pled guilty in United States District Court to one count of conspiracy to distribute or dispense Schedule II controlled substances and four counts of knowingly and intentionally using a registration number that was revoked, suspended and expired. According to court documents, Parsa unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated and agreed together and with others to distribute and dispense Dexedrine, Adderall, Dextrostat, OxyContin and oxycodone outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.

Parsa was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years supervised released and ordered to pay an assessment of $500.

Name:

PASCAL, Harold J., MD

City, State:

East Stroudsburg, PA

Date of Arrest:

12/18/2006

Date of Conviction:

02/01/2008

Judicial Status:

Pled Nolo Contendere

Conviction:

Prescribing and Delivering Controlled Substances Outside the Scope of Treatment; Delivery by Practitioners Schedule I and II; and Medicaid Fraud and Abuse

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 12/19/2006

Remarks:

Harold Pascal, MD, age 73, of East Stroudsburg, PA, pled nolo contendere to one count of Prescribing and Delivering Controlled Substances Outside the Scope of Treatment; one count Delivery by Practitioners Schedule I and II; and Medicaid Fraud and Abuse.

On each count, Pascal was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 6 months no more than 18 months concurrently. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $15,000 and complete 75 hours of community service.

Name:

PERRY-THORNTON, Elena, MD

City, State:

Detroit, MI

Date of Arrest:

09/28/2005

Date of Conviction:

10/19/2006

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance

DEA Registration:

Retired 01/19/2007

Remarks:

Elena Perry-Thornton, MD, age 56, of Detroit, MI, pled guilty in federal court to one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. According to court documents, Perry-Thornton pled guilty to selling a prescription for 100 tablets of 80mg OxyContin to an undercover patient without any significant medical examination, allowing the patient to choose the type of drug, the strength of the drug, and how many days would elapse before the patient purchased additional prescriptions. At times, Perry-Thornton operated her office out of her residence and out of a used car lot.

Perry-Thornton was sentenced to federal prison for a term of 72 months followed by 24 months of supervised probation and ordered to pay an assessment of $100.00.

Name:

PETERS, Alonzo III, MD (aka Peters, Alonzo Jr.)

City, State:

Houston, TX

Date of Arrest:

07/26/2006

Date of Conviction:

01/22/2009

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Money laundering aiding and abetting

DEA Registration:

Retired 10/31/2007

Remarks:

Alonzo Peters III, MD, age 56, of Houston, TX, pled guilty in U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas to one count of money laundering aiding and abetting. According to court documents, Peters knowingly conducted, and attempted to conduct, a financial transaction, specifically, the purchase of a 33.14 karat diamond with cashier’s checks including an $80,000 check purchased at the Beau Rivage Casino which involved the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity, that is, the illegal distribution of controlled substances, knowing that the transaction was designed to conceal and disguise the nature, source, location, ownership or control of the proceeds of that unlawful activity.

Peters was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by a term of three years supervised release and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100 and a fine of $10,000.

Name:

PETROVICH, John A., MD

City, State:

Granite City, IL

Date of Arrest:

07/25/2005

Date of Conviction:

10/24/2005

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Health Care Fraud

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 01/19/2006

Remarks:

John Petrovich, MD, age 47, of Granite City, IL, pled guilty to one count of health care fraud and was sentenced to five years probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 to the United States Government, a separate fine of $5,000 to the Illinois Medicaid Program, and a $100.00 special assessment fee.

According to statement of facts signed by Petrovich, Petrovich wrote prescriptions for anti-anxiety and pain relief medications for individuals with whom he did not have a physician-patient relationship, knowing that the medicines were not medically necessary and that the individuals were using public aide to pay for the prescriptions.

Name:

PONT, Jeffrey M., MD

City, State:

Scottsdale, AZ

Date of Arrest:

08/04/2004

Date of Conviction:

12/15/2004

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Solicitation to Possess Narcotic Drugs

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 04/29/2003

Remarks:

Jeffrey Pont, MD, age 49, of Scottsdale, AZ, pled guilty in state court to one count of solicitation to possess narcotic drugs. He was sentenced to two years probation and must also pay a fine in the amount of $2,160 and complete 200 hours of community service.

Name:

POULSHOCK, Andrew S., DO

City, State:

Philadelphia, PA

Date of Arrest:

01/10/2005 (formal arrest processing delayed until sentencing date)

Date of Conviction:

10/13/2004

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Causing the misbranding of drugs

DEA Registration:

Currently under review

Remarks:

Andrew Poulshock, DO, age 43, of Philadelphia, PA, was arrested after being sentenced in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on one count of causing the misbranding of drugs. Poulshock had previously pled guilty to this charge on October 13, 2004, but formal arrest proceedings were delayed until he was sentenced. He was sentenced to 36 months probation and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine.

According to court records, Poulshock delivered thousands of non-controlled prescription drug samples to a pharmacist who, in turn, placed the drug samples into inventory and sold them to patients. The patient’s insurers reimbursed the pharmacist for the drug samples. Poulshock was paid approximately $50,000 by the pharmacist for the drug samples.

Name:

PHUNG, Can D., MD

City, State:

Norman, OK

Date of Arrest:

05/28/2008

Date of Conviction:

02/04/2009

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Distribution of controlled substances; healthcare fraud; obstruction of justice

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 01/15/2008

Remarks:

Can D. Phung, MD, age 61, of Norman, OK, was found guilty by a federal jury in the Western District of Oklahoma on all fifty-three counts included in the indictment, i.e., fifty-one counts of knowingly and intentionally distributing and dispensing controlled substances outside the usual course of professional medical practice and without medical purpose; one count of healthcare fraud; and one count of obstruction of justice.

According to court documents, Phung wrote prescriptions for hydrocodone, oxycodone, alprazolam, phentermine, and methylphenidate, all controlled pharmaceuticals, to individuals, some of whom he had never seen as patients, outside the usual course of professional medical practice and without medical purpose. Phung billed the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) for evaluation and management services for patients where he did not obtain an appropriate medical history or provide an appropriate examination of the patients. Phung also billed OHCA for office visits with patients he never saw. Following receipt of a subpoena for patient records and before providing those records to the government, Phung knowingly altered, destroyed, falsified, and made false entries in the patient records with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation.

Phung is currently awaiting sentencing.

Name:

RESSNER, Eric L., MD

City, State:

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Date of Arrest:

02/06/2006

Date of Conviction:

08/11/2006

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to commit Health Care Fraud

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 12-26-2006

Remarks:

Eric Ressner, MD, age 52, of Palm Beach Garden, FL, pled guilty in federal court to one count of Conspiracy to commit Health Care Fraud. Ressner was sentenced to forty-eight months imprisonment, three years supervised release, 500 hours of community service, and ordered to forfeit $100,000.00.

According to court documents, Ressner knowingly allowed a licensed pharmacist to use his name in submitting false and fraudulent prescription drug claims for Ketamine HCL and other prescription medication to private health insurance companies. In exchange for allowing the pharmacist to use his name, Ressner received a number of items of significant value from the pharmacist which represented proceeds from payments received from false and fraudulent prescription drug claims. Ressner used some of the payments received from the pharmacist as down payment on his residence.

Name:

RICHARDS, Kenneth D., DO

City, State:

Green City, MO

Date of Arrest:

2/27/2007

Date of Conviction:

06/02/2008

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Unlawful use of drug paraphernalia; Driving While Intoxicated – Drug Intoxication

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 07/09/2007

Remarks:

Kenneth Richards, DO, age 45, of Green City, MO, pled guilty to Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving While Intoxicated – Drug Intoxication.

Richards was sentenced to 24 months probation and 50 hours of community service.

Name:

RINGEL, Steven, MD

City, State:

Harrisonville, KS

Date of Arrest:

10/05/2004

Date of Conviction:

02/07/2005

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Conspiracy to distribute and dispense a controlled substance

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 10/07/2004

Remarks:

Steven Ringel, MD, age 30, of Harrisonville, KS, pled guilty in United States District Court to one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense more than 30,000 units of Lortab (hydrocodone), a controlled substance, outside the scope of professional practice. According to court documents, Ringel wrote prescriptions for hydrocodone using various fictitious patient names with the intention of taking possession of the controlled substances himself.

Ringel was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years supervised release and ordered to pay an assessment of $100 and a fine of $1,000.

Name:

ROBERG, Bradford, MD

City, State:

McHenry, IL

Date of Arrest:

5/13/2008

Date of Conviction:

02/03/2009

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Forgery and Unlawful Acquisition of a Controlled Substance

DEA Registration:

Active (Currently Under Review/Investigation)

Remarks:

Bradford Roberg, MD, age 55, of McHenry, IL, was pled guilty in the Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Lake County, Illinois of forgery and unlawful acquisition of a controlled substance.

According to court documents, Roberg presented a prescription for OxyContin to a pharmacy that he had issued to a patient, who was deceased.

Roberg was sentenced to 30 months probation and 250 hours of public service.

Name:

ROSS, James Stanley, MD

City, State:

Clarksville, VA

Date of Arrest:

01/17/2007

Date of Conviction:

08/28/2007

Judicial Status:

Guilty Plea

Conviction:

Distribution of controlled substances

DEA Registration:

Retired 01/18/2007

Remarks:

James Stanley Ross, MD, age 54, of Clarksville, VA, pled guilty in federal court to one count of distribution of OxyContin; one count of distribution of hydrocodone and codeine; and one count of distribution of oxycodone. According to court documents, Ross knowingly, intentionally, and unlawfully distributed and dispensed OxyContin, hydrocodone, codeine, and oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of medical practice. Ross also wrote and delivered a prescription for sixty (60) dosage units of OxyContin (40mg) in exchange for what he believed was crack cocaine.

Ross was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for a term of three (3) years, and ordered to pay an assessment of $300.

Name:

ROTTSCHAEFER, Bernard, MD

City, State:

Pittsburgh, PA

Date of Arrest:

06/03/2003

Date of Conviction:

03/09/2004

Judicial Status:

Jury Conviction

Conviction:

Distribution of controlled substances

DEA Registration:

Expired 04/30/2006

Remarks:

Bernard Rottschaefer, MD, age 61, of Pittsburgh, PA, was found guilty by a jury on 153 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance in violation of 21 USC 841(a)(1) in United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

At trial, five of Rottschaefer's patients testified that he fed their drug addictions by prescribing them Xanax, OxyContin, and other addictive painkillers; four of his patients testified that they performed sexual favors in exchange for the prescriptions. Rottschaefer was sentenced to 78 months incarceration, 36 months probation, a fine of $12,500, and a special assessment of $15,000.

Name:

RYABIK, Brett, MD

City, State:

Louisville, KY

Date of Arrest:

01/13/2004

Date of Conviction:

02/15/2005

Judicial Status:

Pled Guilty

Conviction:

Obtaining drug by fraud, Trafficking in controlled substances; Prohibited activities

DEA Registration:

Surrendered 01/12/2004

Remarks:

Brett Ryabik, MD, age 44, of Louisville, KY, pled guilty in state court to obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, trafficking in controlled substances and prohibited activities relating to controlled substances. He was sentenced to one year imprisonment, followed by five years probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,000. As a special condition of his plea agreement, Ryabik agreed to provide a video interview which will be disseminated to health care and police officers for training purposes.

According to court documents, in July, 2003, Ryabik made false statements to obtain a prescription of hydrocodone, a controlled substance. He also obtained other controlled substances in the name of another individual who was unaware that a prescription was written in her name.