Newark physician Dr. Terence Sasaki has been handed a five-year sentence for his involvement in a massive multi-state drug conspiracy that saw millions of dollars’ worth of highly addictive prescription painkillers distributed across the country, according to Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Sentenced to 60 months behind bars and ordered to pay $59,133 in restitution, Sasaki was convicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to launder money. His conviction brings the total number of sentences in this drug conspiracy to thirteen, including doctors, pharmacists, a call-center manager, and others.
“This is one of the more egregious pill mill cases we have ever come across,” Dettelbach emphasized. “Prescription drug abuse is a major problem, and whether it’s an Internet-based pill mill or a local dentist handing out prescriptions, we are committed to stopping those who illegally distribute drugs.”
Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation, praised the joint investigative effort that led to this significant victory for Northern Ohio citizens. “These individuals not only fueled the prescription drug problem in Northern Ohio but supported addiction in several parts of the country,” she said.
Pharmacist Vinesh Darji was sentenced last year to nearly five years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, while Audrey Barbara Rovedo, manager at Delta Health, received more than six years for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to launder money. James Hazelwood, who previously operated USMeds, LLC and American Health Alternatives, was sentenced to over eight years for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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