MANDEVILLE, LA – A Louisiana neurologist has confessed to running a brazen operation that flooded the streets with opioids while simultaneously fleecing taxpayers. Anil Prasad, M.D., 62, of Mandeville, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The scheme allegedly operated as a full-blown pill mill, prioritizing profit over patient care.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Prasad rarely bothered with actual examinations. Instead, he pre-signed prescriptions for highly addictive painkillers – oxycodone and hydrocodone – and left them for patients to pick up after a simple cash transaction. The callousness didn’t end there; Prasad reportedly pre-signed prescriptions before international travel, allowing the illegal distribution to continue even in his absence. This wasn’t just reckless practice, it was calculated criminal behavior.
The feds say Prasad knew full well many of these pre-signed prescriptions were being filled using government funds. Medicare and Medicaid were bilked out of a staggering $1,657,461.15, funding the scheme and lining Prasad’s pockets. The Justice Department, led by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski and U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser, isn’t letting this stand. The FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, along with the HHS-OIG’s Dallas Field Office, spearheaded the investigation.
“This isn’t just about writing prescriptions,” said a source close to the investigation who wished to remain anonymous. “It’s about exploiting a system meant to help people, fueling addiction, and enriching yourself at the expense of vulnerable patients and taxpayers. The evidence points to a complete disregard for ethical and legal obligations.” Prasad’s sentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo.
This case is a product of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, which has charged nearly 4,000 defendants for over $14 billion in fraudulent claims since 2007. The Strike Force, operating in 23 districts, continues to target and dismantle healthcare fraud schemes across the country. Additional agencies involved in this investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
The prosecution is being handled by Trial Attorney Jared Hasten of the Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharan Lieberman of the Eastern District of Louisiana. Those looking to report healthcare fraud can find more information at www.stopmedicarefraud.gov. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who exploit the healthcare system for personal gain will be held accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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