Lake Forest physician Eliza Diaconescu, 74, will spend the next six months in a federal prison cell after admitting she ran a ghost patient scheme to bilk Medicare out of tens of thousands of dollars. The feds say Diaconescu pre-signed opioid prescriptions – for hydrocodone, oxycodone, and fentanyl – at her Gurnee pain clinic, then had staff fabricate records to make it look like she’d actually *seen* the patients. She didn’t. Patients just picked up their drugs and left.
Diaconescu pleaded guilty to a single count of healthcare fraud earlier this year, but the scope of the scam is clear: between 2016 and 2021, she knowingly authorized prescriptions without medical examinations, creating a pipeline for potentially dangerous drugs and a hefty profit margin. The scheme relied on falsified paperwork that claimed she’d conducted face-to-face consultations, allowing her clinic to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare for services never rendered. It’s a classic case of greed overriding medical ethics.
Federal prosecutors weren’t buying the “mistake” defense. They argued Diaconescu’s actions weren’t just about money; they contributed directly to the raging opioid crisis that continues to devastate communities nationwide. While six months is a relatively light sentence, the feds made it clear they wanted to send a message: profiting from the opioid epidemic, even through seemingly “white collar” crime, will be met with serious consequences.
U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger didn’t just hand down a prison sentence. He also ordered Diaconescu to pay $84,031 in restitution to Medicare, effectively forcing her to return the stolen funds. This isn’t about ‘fixing’ the damage done to patients potentially harmed by the improperly prescribed drugs, it’s about making the government whole. The FBI, DEA, and Department of Health and Human Services all played a role in building the case, demonstrating a coordinated effort to tackle healthcare fraud.
This case highlights the increasing scrutiny on pain clinics and physicians suspected of overprescribing opioids. The feds have established opioid task forces across the country specifically to investigate and prosecute these types of schemes. They’re looking at everything from illegal kickbacks to outright fraud, and they’re not afraid to target doctors, clinic owners, and anyone else involved in the unlawful distribution of these highly addictive drugs. Diaconescu’s sentence, though modest, is a warning shot.
While Diaconescu’s actions are reprehensible, it’s important to remember that she’s not operating in a vacuum. The opioid crisis is a complex problem with deep roots, and this case is just one small piece of a much larger puzzle. Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on the individuals and institutions profiting from the pain and suffering of others. The investigation is ongoing and sources say more indictments could be coming.
Related Federal Cases
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly.
Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Chicago GrimeChicago GrimeChicago GrimeChicago Grime