Sriramloo Kesari, Prescribed Buprenorphine Illegally, West Virginia 2024

A West Virginia doctor has been convicted of prescribing a buprenorphine product outside the scope of his professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.

Sriramloo Kesari, 78, of Charleston, West Virginia, was convicted of the crime on Thursday, March 21, 2024. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Kesari operated a cash-only operation out of California and West Virginia, signing prescriptions that his employee would distribute in exchange for cash payments. Despite Suboxone being approved as a medication for treating opioid addiction, Kesari provided no meaningful addiction treatment and instead prescribed it to an undercover DEA agent who demonstrated clear signs that the medication was being diverted or sold on the street.

Kesari’s actions have led to severe consequences for those affected by his actions. The DEA investigated the case, and Assistant Chief Kilby Macfadden and Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch, Andrew Barras, and Maryam Adeyola of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The case highlights the importance of holding healthcare professionals accountable for their actions. The Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force, which operates in 10 districts, has charged more than 85 defendants who are collectively responsible for distributing more than 65 million pills since its inception in October 2018.

The Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for approximately $19 billion since its inception in March 2007.

Sriramloo Kesari, M.D., faces serious consequences for his actions, including a possible 20-year prison sentence. The court will determine the exact sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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