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Oakton doctor pleads guilty in opioid distribution case

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Monday, January 27, 2025

Oakton doctor pleads guilty in opioid distribution case

Attorneys & Judges
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Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

An Oakton doctor, David Allingham, has pled guilty to charges related to operating a pill mill. The charges include conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and amphetamines, maintaining drug premises, and making false statements concerning healthcare matters.

David Allingham, 64, owned the Oakton Primacy Care Center (OPCC), where he was the sole medically licensed practitioner. Court documents reveal that from April 2019 to January 2024, Allingham issued prescriptions for opioids and amphetamines without proper patient assessments. This practice was outside professional norms and lacked legitimate medical purposes. During this period, Virginia pharmacies filled approximately 7,330 oxycodone prescriptions written by Allingham, totaling about 405,164 pills.

Patients at Allingham's practice were required to pay out of pocket for visits costing between $300-$550. An additional $700 was charged for a doctor's letter. Chronic pain patients had to visit every 21 days but could often conduct these "visits" via phone calls with untrained staff. Prescriptions were renewed without physical examinations or medical justification beyond patient-provided information.

Allingham's prescribing practices drew scrutiny from multiple pharmacies which refused to fill his prescriptions for controlled substances. After being informed by a national pharmacy chain that it would no longer fill his prescriptions, Allingham instructed employees to avoid brand pharmacies in favor of smaller ones to continue prescribing high-dose opioids.

Untrained staff at OPCC were directed by Allingham to issue prescriptions in his absence without proper medical exams on at least 487 occasions, generating at least $168,000 in proceeds. Urine drug screens (UDS) were required at each appointment but failed tests were ignored or falsely documented in records.

In addition to opioids, Allingham prescribed amphetamines for weight loss regardless of patient obesity status. At least 527 amphetamine prescriptions totaling over 13,500 pills were distributed during the conspiracy.

Allingham also used another doctor's identity without authorization for personal and family medication prescriptions and instructed employees on how to handle inquiries about these prescriptions.

Several patients died from overdoses shortly after receiving oxycodone prescriptions from Allingham. In July 2023, law enforcement searched his residence and practice; during questioning, he made false statements about his practices and instructed an employee to delete communication records.

Allingham is set for sentencing on April 30 and faces up to 20 years in prison. Sentences are typically less than maximum penalties; a federal judge will determine the sentence based on guidelines and statutory factors.

The announcement came from Jessica D. Aber of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia along with Jarod Forget from the DEA’s Washington Division; Maureen R. Dixon from the Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services; and Colonel Gary T. Settle of Virginia State Police after Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.'s acceptance of the plea.

The Fairfax County Police Department assisted in the investigation led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather D. Call prosecuting the case.

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