A Kentucky-based dentist, Dr. Jay M. Sadrinia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the unlawful prescription of opioids, including morphine that led to the death of a patient. Court documents and evidence presented at trial revealed that Sadrinia, 61, owned and operated dental clinics in Crescent Springs, Kentucky.
Despite clear indications of substance abuse disorder among his patients - including notes within his own patient charts - Sadrinia continued to prescribe powerful opioids for routine dental procedures. One such instance of unlawful prescription resulted in a patient's death. The patient had been charged $37,000 for dental procedures and prescribed medically unnecessary quantities of narcotics, including morphine. A few days later, the patient fatally overdosed on the morphine.
In June 2023, a federal jury convicted Sadrinia of unlawful distribution of controlled substances and unlawful distribution of controlled substances resulting in death.
The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri; U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge Michael Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office.
The case was investigated by the DEA and FBI while Assistant Chief Katherine Payerle and Trial Attorney Thomas Campbell from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted it.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since its inception in March 2007, this program has charged over 5,400 defendants who have collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion.
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are working with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.