Federal Grand Jury Indicts Three in Opioid Scheme

With the opioid crisis rapidly gaining steam, we are starting to see some of the legal ramifications from the overprescribing of opioids. Recently, two doctors and their business partner were indicted in federal court for allegations that they were illegally distributing drugs. George P. Naum, a physician from Wheeling, WV; Felix Brizuela, Jr., a physician from Harrison City, Pennsylvania; and their business partner Eric Drake from Weirton, West Virginia were the three men indicted. Dr. Brizuela was indicted on 21 counts of distribution of controlled substances outside the bounds of professional medical practice; one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances outside the bounds of professional medical practice, and 15 counts of illegal remuneration in violation of the federal anti-kickback statute. Dr. Naum was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances outside the bounds of professional medical practice, and 10 counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of controlled substances outside the bounds of professional medical practice. Mr. Drake was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances outside the bounds of professional medical practice; 10 counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of controlled substances outside the bounds of professional medical practice; one count of distribution of a controlled substance, and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. According to United States ...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs