Two West Virginia Internists Face Prison Time for Involvement in Healthcare Fraud, Aiding "Pill Mill"

Two West Virginia internists have been sentenced to one year and one day of prison time after admitting to their involvement in a pill mill operating out of Justice Medical Complex in Kermit, W.V., according to a Herald-Dispatch report.

John Tiano, MD, and Augusto Abad, MD, pleaded guilty to allowing Justice Medical Complex employees to use their names in prescribing medication to patients without seeing the physicians. The local pharmacy where the prescriptions were sent sold more hydrocodone in 2006 than all but 21 retail pharmacies in the country, according to the report.

The state Board of Medicine has already revoked the medical license of Dr. Tiano. Dr. Abad's medical license will be revoked effective Sept. 25. In addition to their prison sentences, both physicians were ordered to pay more than $110,000 in restitution.

Read the Herald-Dispatch's report about the Drs. John Tiano and Augusto Abad's sentences.

Read other coverage about false prescriptions:

- Ohio Cardiologist, Five Others Charged for Illegal Distribution of Medication

- California Pathologist Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Prescription Fraud

- Arkansas Emergency Physician Pleads Not Guilty to Prescription Fraud

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