Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Date: 06-22-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 1:20-cr-00035-LJV
Judge:
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Erie County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Buffalo, New York drug charge criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant, Dr. Gautam Arora, age 43, who was charted with unlawfully acquiring controlled prescriptions by misrepresentation and fraud, and scheming to defraud a health care benefit program.
The defendant, while working as the pain management doctor at the Hens Pain Center in Amherst, NY, prescribed opioids to multiple patients outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. These opioids included hydrocodone, oxycodone, dextroamphetamine-amphetamine, and carisoprodol. Arora wrote approximately 61 prescriptions for controlled substances to individuals who were either not his patients, or without first conducting a proper examination, verifying their medical condition, and assessing the risk of abuse by the individual patient.
In addition, between January 1 and March 31, 2016, the defendant fraudulently billed Medicare for patient office visits totaling $92,209.50. Arora requested and received payment for medical services he did not perform or did not perform to the extent represented.
“History has taught us that inappropriate prescribing practices by some healthcare professionals were a significant contributing factor to the opioid epidemic which continues to ravage this country,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “This defendant, and others like him, put profits before the well-being of his patients. In the process, he also defrauded a federal health care program designed to help, not harm, those who receive Medicare benefits.”
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
Unlawful acts involving controlled substances under 21 U.S.C. 843.
Health Care Fraud, 18 U.S.C. 1347.
Outcome: Defendant is sentenced for a term of time served. Defendant shall be placed on supervised release for a term of 1 year on Count 1 and a term of 3 years on Count 2, to run concurrently. Terms and conditions of Supervised Release shall be set out in the Judgment of Conviction. Restitution imposed in the amount of $92,209.50. $100 Special Penalty Assessment imposed on each count for a total of $200 Special Penalty Assessment imposed.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: