Charlotte Doctor, Wife Guilty in Opioid Trafficking Scheme

ABINGDON, Va. — A Charlotte doctor and his wife have admitted to running a prescription opioid pipeline into Southwest Virginia, preying on patients and gaming the medical system to traffic oxycodone for profit. David Francis Lelio, 57, and Nadja Siiri Kujanson-Lelio, 50, both of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute prescription opioids, marking the end of a three-year investigation into their illicit scheme.

The couple admitted they orchestrated a scheme between 2016 and 2019 in which Dr. David Lelio wrote more than 60 oxycodone prescriptions without legitimate medical purpose, many for patients residing in Wythe County, Virginia. Those prescriptions weren’t for the patients’ use—they were part of a coordinated effort where the pills were funneled back to the couple. In exchange, the Lelios reimbursed patients for the cost of filling the scripts, turning medical care into a black-market exchange.

According to court documents, Nadja Kujanson-Lelio was the intended recipient of the diverted drugs, receiving pills under the guise of patient treatment. The arrangement wasn’t disclosed to pharmacies or regulators. When federal agents moved in and questioned David Lelio, he lied, claiming under oath there was no agreement with patients to return or share prescription opioids. That false statement led to a separate charge, which he also pleaded guilty to.

Law enforcement sources say the case exemplifies how prescription pads have become tools for trafficking in the opioid epidemic. “This wasn’t medicine—it was distribution under the cover of a medical license,” said one investigator familiar with the probe. The scheme exploited trust, turning doctor-patient relationships into cash-and-carry drug deals masked by legitimate-looking prescriptions.

The investigation was jointly led by the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lena Busscher and Randy Ramseyer, built the case over months of patient interviews, prescription records, and financial tracing. The Lelios are scheduled to be sentenced on December 10, 2020, and face significant prison time.

“Healthcare providers who betray their oath to feed the drug trade will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen in a statement. “This prosecution sends a clear message: we’re watching.” The case remains active as authorities assess whether additional charges or co-conspirators may emerge from the network of patients and pharmacies involved.