United States Attorney Terrence Berg, joined by Robert Corso, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration and Andrew G. Arena, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation Detroit Field Office, announced that a Farmington osteopathic physician pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Sohrab Shafinia, D.O., 48, entered the guilty plea in United States District Court, Detroit, before the Honorable Julian Abele Cook, Jr. Shafinia admitted that, between October of 2005 and May of 2007, he wrote prescriptions for over 18,000 dosage units of Oxycontin™ and its generic equivalent oxycodone HCL, in exchange for cash payment.
Berg said, “The type of criminal violations committed by Shafinia, a licensed doctor, constitute a total abuse of trust by the physician that endangers the safety of their patients. Doctors who risk the safety of the public for personal gain can expect to face charges and as well as prison.”
Corso stated, "The DEA has made it a priority to address the dangerous practice of illegally diverting prescription medications. Prescription drugs such as Oxycontin are controlled substances, because if they are abused, they can lead to addiction, illness, or even death. As a physician, Dr. Shafinia violated the public trust by engaging with others to illegally divert prescription drugs to the black market. This conviction makes it clear that the DEA, and our partners in law enforcement, will continue to utilize our investigative techniques to bring to justice those individuals that are responsible for the illegal distribution of prescription medicines."
Shafinia will be sentenced by Judge Cook on November 23, 2009.
Source: United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan
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