Devendra I. Patel, Oxycodone Distribution, Nevada 2024

RENO, Nev. – A northern Nevada cardiologist is trading his stethoscope for prison stripes. Dr. Devendra I. Patel, 60, of Elko, was sentenced Tuesday to three years and one month in federal prison for a brazen scheme to illegally distribute highly addictive opioids. The feds say Patel, also known as Devendrakumar I. Patel, was pumping out prescriptions for Oxycodone and Hydrocodone like candy, with no legitimate medical need, all while raking in the cash.

The bust was the result of a coordinated takedown by the FBI, DEA, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich didn’t mince words: “Medical professionals who violate their oath and the law by prescribing addictive opioids without a legitimate medical purpose will be investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable for their actions.” He made it clear this office is laser-focused on rooting out medical professionals exploiting the opioid crisis for profit.

Federal investigators say Patel, who owned and operated Northeastern Nevada Cardiology, saw a high volume of patients specifically to churn out opioid prescriptions. He wasn’t treating medical conditions, they allege; he was running a prescription mill. The DEA suspended his license immediately upon his arrest in December 2017, following an indictment by a grand jury. Patel pleaded guilty in November 2018 to distribution of controlled substances.

The sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks wasn’t just prison time. Patel will also serve three years of supervised release after his incarceration and is on the hook for a hefty $500,000 fine. He’s been ordered to self-surrender on August 6, 2019, to begin serving his sentence. The FBI’s Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse warned, “Let those who would betray their oath to do no harm take notice of the penalty for such callous mistreatment of their patients.”

This case isn’t an isolated incident. The opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities nationwide. The CDC reports over 42,000 people died from prescription opioid overdoses in 2016, and over 1,000 are treated daily in emergency rooms for misuse. Nevada alone saw 408 opioid-related deaths in 2016. Authorities involved in the investigation, including DEA Resident Agent in Charge Marc C. Kuzmicki, hope this conviction sends a strong message to other practitioners tempted to fuel the crisis.

“Physicians using prescribing privileges to fatten their profits rather than easing the pain of patients should expect aggressive investigation and prosecution,” stated Special Agent in Charge Christian J. Schrank of the Office of Inspector General. The investigation involved a multi-agency effort, including the U.S. Secret Service, the Elko Combined Narcotics Unit, Elko Police Department, Elko County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami handled the prosecution.