BECKLEY, W.Va. – A West Virginia physician has confessed to his part in a sprawling opioid fraud scheme that left a trail of addiction and death. Sanjay Mehta, D.O., 57, of Shady Spring, pleaded guilty Thursday, July 10, 2025, to three counts of aiding and abetting obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. The guilty plea stems from his time at HOPE (Hitech Opioid Pharmachovigilance Expertise) Clinic, a so-called pain management operation that stretched across West Virginia and Virginia.
Court documents paint a grim picture of HOPE Clinic as a haven for reckless prescribing. Mehta worked at the Beckley and Beaver locations from November 2012 through May 2015, allegedly dispensing powerful narcotics despite having “little to no experience” dealing with chronic pain patients and lacking essential training in prescribing Schedule II drugs. He wasn’t qualified, and the evidence suggests he didn’t care. Mehta admitted to writing prescriptions for oxycodone, methadone, and Roxicodone – all with no legitimate medical justification – to three patients. Tragically, two of those patients succumbed to opioid intoxication within days of filling those prescriptions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office isn’t letting Mehta off lightly. He’s facing a maximum sentence of four years in federal prison, along with up to three years of supervised release and a hefty $750,000 fine. Beyond the potential jail time, Mehta has agreed to surrender his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certificate, effectively ending his career. He won’t fight the revocation of his ability to prescribe controlled substances, nor will he seek to regain it.
Mehta was originally indicted in 2018 as part of a larger investigation into HOPE Clinic and Patients, Physicians and Pharmacists Fighting Diversion (PPPFD), the entity that ran the day-to-day operations. The indictment alleges a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and other Schedule II narcotics from November 2010 to June 2015, prioritizing profit over patient well-being. Six other physicians have already pleaded guilty to separate charges in connection with the case. Mark T. Radcliffe, 68, the owner of PPPFD, and Michael T. Moran, M.D., 60, are scheduled to face trial on October 6, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston minced no words: “It is readily evident that the Southern District of West Virginia has been severely impacted by the opioid crisis…This commitment stems from the recognition that such actions harm patients and undermine efforts to combat the epidemic.” This case is a stark reminder of the human cost of the opioid crisis and the relentless pursuit of justice by federal investigators.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving numerous agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the IRS-CI, the FDA-OCI, the FBI, the DEA, the West Virginia State Police, and several local law enforcement departments. Acting Special Agent in Charge Ronald Dawkins of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations emphasized the danger posed by medical professionals who abuse their positions, stating they will be held accountable for compromising patient safety. Mehta is scheduled to be sentenced on October 31, 2025. Remember, an indictment is not a conviction; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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