PITTSBURGH, PA – A Pittsburgh psychiatrist traded prescriptions for cash and bilked insurance companies, admitting guilt in federal court today. Dr. Kenneth M. Stanko, 67, pleaded guilty to both possession with intent to distribute and distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and health care fraud, according to Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song.
The courtroom confession detailed a scheme where Stanko allegedly dispensed Oxycodone in exchange for cold, hard cash – a blatant disregard for medical ethics and a direct fueling of the opioid crisis gripping the nation. But the cash wasn’t the only thing flowing. Stanko also faces charges for submitting fraudulent claims to UPMC Health Plan and AETNA.
Prosecutors laid out evidence suggesting Stanko’s prescriptions were far outside the bounds of legitimate medical practice, written not to heal, but to generate illicit profit. The doctor reportedly submitted claims for prescriptions lacking a genuine medical purpose, effectively stealing from the healthcare system and potentially endangering patients.
United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone has set a sentencing date for May 24, 2016, at 10 a.m. Stanko is looking at a maximum sentence of 30 years behind bars, alongside a hefty fine of $1,250,000. The actual sentence will be determined by the severity of the offenses and any prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar is leading the prosecution, building a case from the ground up with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The DEA’s involvement underscores the serious nature of the drug distribution charge – this wasn’t just a billing error.
The investigation, years in the making, highlights the continued federal crackdown on medical professionals exploiting their positions for personal gain and contributing to the devastating opioid epidemic. Stanko’s fall from grace serves as a stark warning: the prescription pad is not a license to break the law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves toward sentencing.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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