A 52-year-old doctor from Clifton Park, New York, has been sentenced to 38 months in prison for distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose, and for misusing personal information in the course of fraudulently obtaining controlled substances.
Scott McMahon, a psychiatrist with a medical practice in Clifton Park, was sentenced to 38 months in prison by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy. McMahon was also ordered to forfeit $6,774.76 and to serve a 3-year term of supervised release.
McMahon has been in custody since September 10, 2020. In addition to his prison sentence, McMahon agreed to surrender his New York State medical license, as well as his DEA registration that had allowed him to prescribe controlled substances.
The investigation into McMahon’s activities was conducted by the DEA Albany District Office’s Tactical Diversion Squad and its Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.
McMahon’s scheme involved providing certain patients with prescriptions for the Schedule II controlled substance methylphenidate – the generic of Ritalin – with the intent of having them kick back a portion of each prescription to him for his own personal use. In one instance, McMahon obtained the names and birthdates of the children of a patient and used that information to issue methylphenidate prescriptions in the children’s names.
In a separate civil case, McMahon agreed to pay $43,225.24 to settle claims arising from his improper prescribing of ketamine and failure to keep proper records of ketamine treatment. McMahon admitted that he improperly prescribed ketamine intranasal spray to an individual who had no legitimate medical need for it and failed to conduct an initial inventory when he began dispensing ketamine.
The case against McMahon highlights the importance of vigilance in the medical community and the need for robust oversight of healthcare providers. As this newspaper continues to investigate and report on cases of prescription fraud and other forms of healthcare abuse, we urge our readers to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Scott McMahon; Charges: Distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose, and for misusing personal information in the course of fraudulently obtaining controlled substances; City and State: Clifton Park, New York; Date of Sentencing: Not specified; Sentence: 38 months in prison; Fine: $6,774.76 forfeited; Additional Outcome: Surrender of New York State medical license and DEA registration.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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