Andres Mencia, MD, a former physician in Fort Lauderdale, FLa., was convicted June 29 for participating in a scam to distribute controlled substances, according to Sun Sentinel.
Police accused Dr. Mencia of billing taxpayers for fake medical consultations and taking cash to then prescribe unnecessary pain pills. He was first arrested in February 2018 and released on a $500,000 bond. Dr. Mencia surrendered his medical license after the arrest.
Investigators allege Dr. Mencia, along with three of his office employees, allegedly set up fake appointments between January 2014 and October 2017 to prescribe patients opioids and narcotics in exchange for cash payments.
From January 2015 to August 2017, Dr. Mencia prescribed more than 1.2 million dosage units of opioids, investigators told Sun Sentinel. He also improperly billed Medicare and Medicaid for many medical visits during this time.
Federal prosecutors seek a forfeiture of at least $3.3 million, in addition to two of Dr. Mencia's homes.
Dr. Mencia will be sentenced on September 7 by U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas.
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