A former Pittsburgh-area doctor has been accused of unlawfully prescribing opioids, committing health care fraud and money laundering.
Andrzej Kazimierz Zielke, 66, of Allison Park, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful dispensing and distributing Schedule II controlled substances, one count of health care fraud, and one count of money laundering before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised Zielke owned and operated Medical Frontiers, LLC, a purported pain management practice, located in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania.
Zielke committed the crimes on or about October 3, 2017, May 25, 2017, October 3, 2017, and December 17, 2014, by knowingly dispensing and distributing Schedule II drugs, including Oxycodone, Methadone, Hydrocodone and Oxymorphone, to four patients outside the course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.
Zielke also committed health care fraud by causing fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicaid for payments to cover the costs of the unlawfully prescribed drugs. Finally, Zielke violated federal money laundering statutes when he caused approximately $150,000 in proceeds obtained through his illegal drug distribution to be wired from a bank account to Kitco Metals, Inc., in Canada to purchase silver and collector coins.
Zielke faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a fine of $500,000.00, or both, for the controlled substances offenses. Zielke also faces an additional maximum of 10 years and fine of $250,000.00 for the health care fraud charges; and a maximum of 10 years and a fine of $250,000.00 for the money laundering offenses.
The investigation leading to the filing of charges in this case was conducted by the Western Pennsylvania Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit (OFADU). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Summer Carroll of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Summer Carroll of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Pending sentencing, the Court continued Zielke on bond.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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