A Montgomery nurse practitioner has been found guilty of unlawfully distributing controlled substances, health care fraud, and conspiracy in a federal jury trial.
Lilian Ifeoma Akwuba, 39, was convicted on Monday, October 29, 2018, on 17 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances, 4 counts of health care fraud, 1 count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances, and 1 count of conspiring to commit health care fraud, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr.
The trial evidence showed that Akwuba worked at Family Practice, a Montgomery medical practice located at 4143 Atlanta Highway, from 2013 through 2016. Her supervisor there was Dr. Gilberto Sanchez. Working under Sanchez, Akwuba issued and caused to be issued unnecessary and illegitimate prescriptions for a variety of controlled substances, including fentanyl, hydrocodone (commonly known as “Norco”), oxycodone (commonly known as “Percocet”), alprazolam (commonly known as “Xanax”), and methadone. Akwuba and Sanchez also required these patients to return approximately every month to obtain their prescriptions. These unnecessary office visits and unlawful prescriptions were ultimately billed to the insurance companies, which paid the claims.
Following these convictions, Akwuba is facing up to 20 years in prison, substantial fines, and up to 3 years of supervised release.
“We will never be able to fully appreciate the harm that Ms. Akwuba caused to the patients who put their trust in her,” stated United States Attorney Franklin. “Patients hoped that Ms. Akwuba would appropriately treat their illnesses. Instead, she inflicted upon them a new disease—addiction. I hope that this verdict will send a strong message to the medical community. Society will no longer tolerate health care providers who are willing to betray their patients’ trust to make an easy buck.”
Akwuba is scheduled to be sentenced on a later date.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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