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Press Release

Greensburg Doctor Charged with Illegally Distributing Controlled Substances and Health Care Fraud

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH, PA - A family practice physician has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of unlawfully dispensing controlled substances and health care fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The 54-count indictment, returned on October 2, 2018 and unsealed today, named Milad Shaker, 49, of Greensburg, PA, as the sole defendant.

According to indictment, from 2014 to 2017, Shaker, a licensed physician, unlawfully distributed controlled substances, including Vicodin, Percocet, Tramadol and others, in return for sexual favors provided to him either physically or by electronic communication, such as text messaging. Shaker is also charged with health care fraud for causing fraudulent claims to be submitted to Highmark Health Plan and Aetna Health Plan for payments to cover the costs of the unlawfully prescribed controlled substances.

The law provides for a maximum per count sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both, for counts 1-36 and a maximum per count sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for counts 37-52. Shaker faces an additional maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of $250,000 for the health care fraud charges at counts 53 and 54. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The investigation leading to the filing of charges in this case was conducted by the Western Pennsylvania Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, which combines personnel and resources from the following agencies to combat the growing prescription opioid epidemic: Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office – Criminal Division, Civil Division and Asset Forfeiture Unit, Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General, Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Licensing.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Updated October 4, 2018

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Health Care Fraud