A Hamilton doctor pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to trafficking opioids and defrauding the healthcare system.
Nilesh Jobalia, 54, operated Cincinnati Centers for Pain Relief from March 2013 through December 2017.
The Department of Justce says it was essentially an unlicensed pain clinic.
“Today, Dr. Jobalia accepted responsibility for trafficking drugs by means of a prescription pad, health care fraud, and receiving kickbacks,” U.S. Attorney Ben Glassman said. “He faces a substantial term of imprisonment for his crimes.”
Prosecutors said patients received opioid prescriptions without ever seeing a doctor, and Jobalia billed Medicare, Medicaid and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for medically unnecessary prescriptions.
“Jobalia caused more than $2 million in false claims,” the Department of Justice reported.
Prosecutors also said Jobalia got more than $103,000 for running sham speaking engagements about fentanyl spray. Court documents state Jobalia filled the seats for these speeches with his own staff and pharmaceutical sales representatives.
Jobalia faces six and half to 12 years in prison as part of the plea agreement he accepted. A sentencing hearing as not yet been scheduled.