ELKO, NV – A Nevada cardiologist is facing a mountain of charges after allegedly turning his practice, Northeastern Nevada Cardiology, into a prescription opioid mill and defrauding Medicare and Medicaid. Dr. Devendra I. Patel, 58, of Elko, was arrested yesterday on 39 counts – 36 related to unlawful distribution of controlled substances like oxycodone and hydrocodone, and three counts of healthcare fraud, federal authorities announced.
The indictment, unsealed today, alleges a brazen scheme spanning from May 2014 to September 2017. Patel is accused of routinely prescribing powerful opioids – fentanyl, hydrocodone, and oxycodone – to patients with no legitimate medical need. Simultaneously, he allegedly padded his income by billing Medicare and Medicaid for medical tests he never performed. The statutory maximum penalty for each count of distribution of a controlled substance is 10 years in prison, and the same for healthcare fraud, meaning Patel could face a lengthy stretch behind bars.
According to investigators, Patel allegedly performed basic EKGs on patients, then used those results as a pretext to order unnecessary and unadministered nuclear stress tests. He’s further accused of using a poorly calibrated machine and presenting fabricated X-rays to convince patients they had coronary issues, creating a false need for his services. The operation wasn’t about patient care, sources say, but about lining Patel’s pockets.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions weighed in, framing the arrest as a critical blow against the national opioid crisis. “Today we are facing the worst drug crisis in American history, with one American dying of a drug overdose every nine minutes,” Sessions stated. He highlighted the creation of the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, specifically tasked with prosecuting doctors engaged in opioid-related healthcare fraud, and the assignment of a dozen federal prosecutors to focus on the epidemic’s hotspots.
Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada emphasized this is the first case brought in Nevada under the new Justice Department initiative. “Dr. Patel is the first person to be charged in Nevada since the formation of the Justice Department’s Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit,” Myhre said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to turning the tide of the prescription opioid epidemic that is plaguing our communities.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse echoed the sentiment, stating Patel “recklessly prescribed opioids, for no legitimate medical purpose,” and that the arrest should serve as a warning to others.
DEA Special Agent in Charge David J. Downing added that the agency is “using every resource available to identify the traffickers and facilitators fueling addiction in our communities.” Patel is scheduled to appear in federal court in Reno on Wednesday. This case, a joint effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, DEA, and the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, signals a stepped-up federal crackdown on doctors accused of fueling the opioid epidemic through fraudulent practices. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges are possible.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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