Dentist Sentenced to 20 Years for Unlawful Opioid Prescriptions

USA: A Kentucky-based dentist, Dr. Jay M. Sadrinia, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the unlawful prescription of opioids, including morphine that tragically led to the death of a patient. According to court documents and evidence presented at the trial, the 61-year-old Sadrinia owned and operated dental clinics in Crescent Springs, Kentucky.

Despite clear indications of substance abuse disorder among his patients, as noted within his own patient charts, Sadrinia continued to prescribe powerful opioids for routine dental procedures. This disregard for patient safety had devastating consequences, as one patient fatally overdosed on the morphine prescribed by Sadrinia just days after being charged $37,000 for dental procedures and receiving medically unnecessary quantities of narcotics.

Examining Opioid Prescriptions Preceding Emergency Dental Visits

Federal Conviction and Investigation

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, with Assistant Chief Katherine Payerle and Trial Attorney Thomas Campbell from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuting it.

Cracking Down on Health Care Fraud

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.

Navigating US Dental Care in the Age of Legalized Marijuana

In a statement, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services emphasized their commitment to holding providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes, working in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

According to U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV, “This case serves as a stark reminder of the grave consequences of unlawful opioid distribution and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.”