Beckley doctor sentenced to eight years in prison for Federal drug crime and health care fraud

BECKLEY, W.Va. - Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto announced today that Jose Jorge Abbud Gordinho, M.D., of Beckley, was sentenced to eight years in prison, a $15,000 fine, and ordered to pay over $48,000 in restitution to Medicare and Medicaid for a federal drug crime and health care fraud. Dr. Gordinho previously pleaded guilty in January 2016 to illegally prescribing the pain medication hydrocodone and defrauding Medicare and Medicaid by submitting materially false claims for services that were not medically necessary.

Dr. Gordinho admitted that he routinely prescribed pain pills for illegitimate purposes and in a manner that was outside the bounds of medical practice. Dr. Gordinho further admitted that he defrauded Medicare and Medicaid when he sought and received payment for office visits, services, and prescriptions related to his illegal prescribing practices.

Additionally, as part of the plea agreement, Dr. Gordinho will permanently surrender his DEA Certificate of Registration, ensuring that he will no longer be permitted to prescribe controlled substances.

This case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.

This case is part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of pills and heroin in communities across the Southern District. 

• Follow us on Twitter: SDWVNews