California physician to pay $2.3M for illegal drug distribution

Santa Ana, Calif.-based physician Mohammed El-Nachef, MD, pleaded guilty to defrauding California’s Medi-Cal system by prescribing medically unnecessary drugs to more than 1,000 patients, The Telegraph reported Sept. 28. 

Advertisement

He was ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution and surrender his medical license. 

From 2014 to 2016, Dr. El-Nachef prescribed unnecessary HIV medications, antipsychotics and opioids to patients at Los Angeles and Anaheim, Calif.-based clinics, the report said. The patients, who were Medi-Cal recipients, were recruited with cash payment promises and then illegally sold the drugs. 

Dr. El-Nachef was recruited to write unnecessary prescriptions and was paid in cash. He pleaded guilty to one count of insurance fraud and one count of aiding and abetting.

Advertisement

Next Up in ASC News

  • Becker’s reported on 39 hospital mergers and acquisitions in 2025, ranging from rural hospital partnerships to massive, multi-state system expansions. …

  • Brewer, Maine-based Northern Light Health will close its primary care practice in Castine on Feb. 27, citing staffing challenges, declining…

  • The dynamics shaping mergers and acquisitions within the ASC space are constantly shifting as corporate entities push consolidation efforts and…

Advertisement

Comments are closed.