ALEXANDRIA, VA—Nibedita Mohanty, M.D., 56, of Stafford, Virginia, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for distribution and dispensation of controlled substances and aiding and abetting health care fraud. Dr. Mohanty, who was formerly the Chief of Medicine at Stafford Hospital from June 2009 through Feb. 12, 2013, was also fined $15,000 and ordered to pay a forfeiture of cash proceeds in the amount of $43,120.

Dr. Mohanty pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2015. According to court documents, Dr. Mohanty admitted to issuing prescriptions for oxycodone which were not for a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of medical practice. In one such instance, on May 2, 2011, Dr. Mohanty issued a prescription for oxycodone to patient who experienced a nonfatal narcotics overdose. Dr. Mohanty subsequently treated the patient at the hospital. On May 31, 2011, Dr. Mohanty issued another oxycodone prescription to same patient. The next day, the patient was found deceased in the bathroom of a friend’s home. The cause of death was determined to be accidental acute combined oxycodone and imipramine toxicity.

In another instance, on Oct. 3, 2011, Dr. Mohanty issued a prescription for oxycodone to a patient. Nine days later the patient was found unresponsive in her home. Hospital records and testimony would have shown that the nonfatal overdose was oxycodone related.

In addition, Dr. Mohanty admitted that she aided and abetted a patient in the commission of health care fraud. Dr. Mohanty acknowledged that she did not possess a “X” DEA number, nor was she authorized for office-based narcotic buprenorphine treatment. Despite this Dr. Mohanty prescribed Subutex, which contains buprenorphine, to a patient who she was treating for drug addiction and dependence, which was billed to and paid for by the patient’s health insurance.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Andrew G. McCabe, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Charles E. Jett, Stafford County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.

The case was investigated by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI’s Richmond and Washington Field Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Rossi and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ballantyne and Nicole Grosnoff are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:14-cr-256.