A Kentucky dentist, Dr. Jay M. Sadrinia, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for unlawfully prescribing opioids, including morphine, which ultimately led to the death of one of his patients.
Court documents and trial evidence revealed that Dr. Sadrinia, 61, owned and operated dental clinics in Crescent Springs, Kentucky.
Despite clear indications, including notes in his patients’ charts indicating substance abuse disorders, Sadrinia routinely prescribed powerful opioids for routine dental procedures.
One particular patient paid $37,000 for dental work and was prescribed medically unnecessary amounts of narcotics, including morphine.
Tragically, the patient fatally overdosed on the morphine just days later.
In June 2023, a federal jury found Sadrinia guilty of unlawful distribution of controlled substances and unlawful distribution of controlled substances resulting in death.
The case was investigated by the DEA and FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant Chief Katherine Payerle and Trial Attorney Thomas Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
The Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, led by the Fraud Section, has been instrumental in combating health care fraud.
Since its inception in March 2007, this program has charged over 5,400 defendants, collectively billing federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion.
