Greenwood Village, Colo.-based psychiatrist Howard Weiss, MD, has been sentenced to six months in prison and must pay nearly $1 million for illegal controlled substance distribution.
An investigation revealed Dr. Weiss was prescribing medically unnecessary methamphetamine to several adult patients, as well as poly-drug prescribing — he regularly prescribed high-dose stimulants with high-dose sedatives, according to a June 8 news release from the Justice Department.
In July 2017, one of his patients was arrested after showing up to a drug deal with 119 methamphetamine pills prescribed by Dr. Weiss. Additionally, the patient's probation officer had already contacted Dr. Weiss to warn about the patient's methamphetamine addiction.
Dr. Weiss also engaged in illegal banking activity. According to the report, he structured financial transactions to thwart bank requirements to file reports for deposits of more than $10,000 in cash. From November 2015 to February 2018, Dr. Weiss made 45 cash deposits that were more than $9,000 but less than the $10,000 threshold.
After his sentence, Dr. Weiss will also face 10 months of home confinement, part of three years on supervised release.