Anesthesiologist Jaime Guerrero, MD, was sentenced to 100 months in prison in federal court in Louisville, Ky., for his role in the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, including the prescription opioid hydrocodone without a legitimate medical purpose, and related crimes, according to a DOJ report.
Here are five points:
1. Dr. Guerrero, an anesthesiologist with offices in Kentucky and Indiana, pleaded guilty to 31 counts, including unlawful distribution or dispensing of controlled substances, healthcare fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.
2. Dr. Guerrero allegedly knowingly and intentionally distributed and dispensed Schedule II and III controlled substances to patients, which led to the death for one patient in 2011.
3. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of healthcare fraud for fraudulently billing various healthcare benefit programs and submitting fraudulent patient healthcare counseling claims.
4. Dr. Guerrero pleaded guilty to a single money laundering charge for paying taxes on a building in Jeffersonville with money derived from dispensing and distribution of controlled substances and healthcare fraud activities.
5. Dr. Guerrero agreed to forfeit his license to practice medicine and Guerrero Real Estate Investments-owned property. He agreed to pay $827,000 in victim restitution to nine healthcare benefit programs.