Former Portland Podiatrist Indicted on Drug and Health Care Fraud Charges

PORTLAND, ME—United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Portland indicted John B. Perry, age 50, currently of Bridgton, Maine, on drug and health care fraud charges. Perry is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, one count of health care fraud, and 43 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

According to the indictment, until December 2010, Perry was a podiatrist practicing at Atlantic Foot and Ankle in Portland. The indictment alleges that, from 2009 through November 2010, Perry wrote prescriptions with no medical purpose, traded prescriptions for cash and cocaine, and fabricated patient charts to cover his illegal prescriptions.

The conspiracy count and all but one of the drug distribution counts carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The health care fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the State of Maine Health Care Crimes Unit.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.