Physician Charged With Illegally Distributing Pain Medications Resulting in Five Fatalities, DEA Reports

Jaime Guerrero, a former medical physician with offices in Louisville, KY, and Jeffersonville, IN, has been indicted for knowingly distributing and dispensing Schedule II and III controlled substances to patients without a legitimate medical purpose. Further, Guerrero is charged with dispensing such medications to five patients who died as a result, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) press release. Other charges against Guerrero include three counts of health care fraud. Specifically, Guerrero allegedly saw more than 100 patients on three 2011 dates, spending three minutes or less with each patient. Guerrero is charged with fraudulently billing various health care benefit programs, including submitting claims for office visits that were not medically necessary or within the course of usual medical practice.

As noted in the DEA press release, “The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.” If convicted at trial, Guerrero faces up to life in prison, a financial fine, and a period of supervised release.