Grand Jury Supersedes Its Indictment Against Doctor from Energy, Illinois, on Charges of Obstruction of Justice, Illegal Dispensation of Controlled Substances, and Witness Tampering

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced today that on September 9, 2009, the district court returned a 12-count indictment against Dr. SUKHDARSHAN S. BEDI, 55, of Energy, Illinois. On July 10, 2009, the Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, charged Dr. BEDI and his three clinics: ILLINOIS HEALTHCARE CLINIC, P.C. d/b/a MARION FAMILY HEALTH CARE, located at 1131 N. Carbon Street, Marion, Williamson County, Illinois; M-CFHC, INC. d/b/a HARRISBURG FAMILY HEALTHCARE, located at 305 N. Commercial Street, Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois; and GALATIA MEDICAL CENTER CORP., located at 124 E. Main Street, Galatia, Saline County, Illinois.

Dr. BEDI is charged with the following: (a) obstruction of justice in Counts 1 and 2, which carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; (b) tampering with witnesses in Counts 3 and 4, which carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; (c) false statements in Count 5, which carries penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; (d) illegal dispensation of controlled substances (Methadone, Oxycodone and Methylphenidate) in Counts 6, 8, 9 10 and 11, which carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; (e) conspiracy to illegally dispense controlled substances in Count 7, which carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; and (f) health care fraud in Count 12, which carries penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

The clinics were each charged with with following: (a) conspiracy to illegally dispense a controlled substance in Count 7, which carries penalties of up to five years’ probation, a fine of up to $500,000, or both; and (b) health care fraud in Count 12, which carries penalties of up to five years’ probation, a fine of up to $500,000, or both.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Illinois State Police; the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group; and the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Quinley and Liam Coonan.

If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with healthcare laws or public aid programs, you may report this activity to the local office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General or call 1-800-447-8477.