A New Hampshire doctor has pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally distribute controlled substances, a significant case representing the first joint prosecution by the Justice Department’s New England Strike Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont.
Dr. Adnan S. Khan, 48, from Grantham, admitted to collaborating with others to distribute controlled substances through his network of clinics across New England. It was alleged that Khan prescribed medications to patients battling substance abuse while being aware that they were diverting these prescriptions for illegal use.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri emphasized the gravity of the situation: “The defendant, a medical doctor based in New England, prescribed drugs to vulnerable patients in exchange for cash, knowing the patients were diverting the drugs.”
Khan and his co-conspirators required cash payments for office visits and manipulated medical records to justify their illegal prescribing practices. They even expressed concerns about losing “dishonest” patients who were selling their prescribed medications.
This case underscores the critical issues of healthcare fraud and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for profit. Khan’s actions have jeopardized both patients and communities, exacerbating the ongoing opioid crisis.
Rather than providing responsible addiction treatment to his patients, Khan ran his medical practice with the corruption and recklessness of a common drug dealer, stated Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General HHS-OIG.