Jaime Guerrero, MD, has been sentenced to 100 months in prison for distribution of controlled substances, including prescription opioid hydrocodone, without a legitimate medical purpose, according to the Department of Justice.
Dr. Guerrero admitted to distributing and dispensing Schedule II and III controlled substances without a medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional medical practice between Nov. 1, 2009, and May 8, 2014. Beginning in January 2010, Dr. Guerrero began dispensing Hydrocodone to a patient identified as "S.O." without a legitimate medical purpose, which resulted in the patient's death on Sept. 24, 2011, according to the DOJ.
Dr. Guerrero also allegedly fraudulently submitted more than 100 claims to healthcare benefit programs for office visits at a higher code than the service provided.
On Jan. 7, Dr. Guerrero pleaded guilty to 31 counts, including unlawful distribution or dispensing of controlled substances, healthcare fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.
In addition to the prison term, Dr. Guerrero, 48, who previously had offices in Louisville, Ky., and Jeffersonville, Ind., will forfeit his medical license and pay $827,000 in victim restitution to nine healthcare benefit programs.
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