Arlington, Va.-based physician Kirsten Van Steeberg Ball, MD, was indicted on 21 counts of illegally distributing oxycodone, ABC affiliate WRIC reported May 1.
Dr. Ball prescribed large amounts of oxycodone without seeing patients in person; she also prescribed high doses of oxycodone alongside diazepam, a dangerous combination.
One patient was prescribed 320 oxycodone pills in June 2015 and 180 pills the following month. In August 2015, the patient died of an overdose.
Dr. Ball allegedly conspired with her office manager, Candie Calix, to distribute oxycodone to addicts — Ms. Calix was sentenced to seven years in prison September 2022. From 2012 to 2022, Ms. Calix, as a patient of Dr. Ball, was prescribed 40,000 oxycodone pills.
Dr. Ball faces up to 20 years in prison on each count if convicted.