Saratoga doctor sentenced for illegally prescribing opioids
SAN JOSE >> A judge on Monday ordered a South Bay doctor to serve two years in prison for unlawfully prescribing highly addictive painkillers, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The sentence comes seven months after Venkat Aachi, of Saratoga, pleaded guilty to one count each of distributing hydrocodone outside the scope of professional practice and health care fraud.
Aachi, who operated a pain clinic in San Jose, wrote thousands of bogus prescriptions between Sept. 18, 2017, and July 2, 2018, federal prosecutors said. For example, in November 2017, one patient received a script for 90 hydrocodoneacetaminophen pills without a physical examination or discussion about their pain or response to prior medication.
Prosecutors said Aachi acknowledged that he knew the prescriptions were not for a legitimate medical purpose and that he did not write them in the usual course of his professional practice.
“Dr. Venkat Aachi went from doctor to drug dealer when he prescribed highly addictive painkillers without a physical examination or legitimate medical need,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen in a statement.
“Physicians who unlawfully prescribe opioids are directly contributing to the opioid crisis,” added FBI Special Agent in Charge
John F. Bennett. “Venkat Aachi violated his oath and the trust of our community by illicitly pushing controlled substances to persons without need.”
Hydrocodone is one of the most common drugs involved in prescription opioid deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 700,000 people died from an overdose between 1999 and 2017.
Aachi also admitted he submitted a false and fraudulent claim for healthcare benefits, items and services, prosecutors said.
In addition to the twoyear prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Davila ordered Aachi to serve three years of supervised release and pay nearly $82,620 in restitution.