Nurse practitioner Lillian Akwuba was found guilty of prescribing controlled substances and committing healthcare fraud while working at the family practice of Gilberto Sanchez, MD, the Montgomery Advertiser reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. A federal jury found Ms. Akwuba guilty of illegally prescribing fentanyl, oxycodone and methadone to patients between 2013 and 2017, as well as billing insurance for unnecessary medical visits. She was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit money launder and three counts of money laundering.
2. Ms. Akwuba's lawyer, Andrew Skier, said they are disappointed by the verdict.
"As Ms. Akwuba testified, she treated her patients to the best of her ability, training and experience," he said. "We will now move forward to a sentencing hearing, which I expect to be highly litigated. After that time, we will make a decision as to whether to appeal the verdict and sentence in this matter."
3. Ms. Akwuba was arrested in December 2017, and her sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2019. Dr. Sanchez was arrested and charged in August 2017. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges.