Pharmacists indicted in alleged L.A. Oxycontin ring
New federal charges have been filed in a case involving a Los Angeles prescription mill that distributed more than 900,000 oxycontin pills on the streets, authorities announced Tuesday.
From about August 2008 to February 2010, when the clinic closed, Mike Mikaelian and Anjelika Sanamian headed a Westlake operation where Oxycontin was prescribed more than 10,833 times, according to an indictment.
The pills were then allegedly routed back to clinic operators and sold on the street. In addition, millions of dollars in false claims were billed to Medicare and Medi-Cal, according to court documents.
Five additional people, including four pharmacists, were charged in the new indictment which alleges a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, a conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, money laundering and structuring financial transactions.
So far, 16 people have been charged with being part of the drug-trafficking organization, and 15 have pleaded not guilty.
One defendant is a fugitive, according to authorities.
Defendants used the proceeds from the pill sales to gamble at casinos, purchase cars and jewelry and obtain more Oxycontin, according to court documents.
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