Journalism of Courage
An Indian-origin doctor has been sentenced to 14 years in prison in the United States for orchestrating health care fraud, wire fraud, unlawful distribution of controlled substances, and money laundering-related offences, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
Neil K Anand, 48, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, was also ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution and forfeit another $2 million, according to a DOJ statement released Tuesday, PTI reported.
Anand was convicted in April this year of conspiring to submit false claims to Medicare, the US Office of Personnel Management’s health plans, Independence Blue Cross, and Anthem. Prosecutors said he dispensed “Goody Bags” of medically unnecessary prescription drugs through in-house pharmacies he owned, defrauding insurers of more than $2.4 million.
To push patients to accept the unwanted drugs, Anand also conspired to illegally distribute oxycodone, with unlicensed medical interns writing prescriptions on blank forms pre-signed by him. He prescribed more than 20,800 oxycodone tablets to just nine patients, the DOJ said.
After learning of the federal probe, Anand tried to conceal the proceeds by transferring about $1.2 million into an account in a relative’s name, prosecutors said.
In April 2025, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, three counts of health care fraud, one count of money laundering, four counts of unlawful monetary transactions, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
(With Inputs from PTI)
