Doctor from Energy, Illinois Pleads Guilty to Charges of Obstruction of Justice, Tampering with a Witness, and Illegal Dispensation of Methadone Doctor’s Three Corporations Plead to Charges of Conspiracy and Health Care Fraud

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced today that on November 4, 2009, Dr. SUKHDARSHAN S. BEDI, 56, of Energy, Illinois, and his three health care clinics pled to various charges in the United States District Court in Benton, Illinois. Dr. BEDI pled to 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 a witness in Count 3, which carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; and (c) illegal dispensation of controlled substances, Methadone, in Count 6, which carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both.

Dr. BEDI’s corporations, ILLINOIS HEALTHCARE CLINIC, P.C. d/b/a MARION FAMILY HEALTH CARE; M-CFHC, INC. d/b/a HARRISBURG FAMILY HEALTHCARE; and GALATIA MEDICAL CENTER CORP., pled to the 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 $5,000,000, 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.

Dr. BEDI agreed to voluntarily surrender his medical license and to withdraw his application for reinstatement of his DEA Registration. He also agreed to pay criminal restitution in the amount of $47,784.31 to the Medical program administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Upon sentencing, the Government agrees to dismiss remaining counts. The three corporations agreed to be jointly and severally responsible with Dr. BEDI for paying the criminal restitution.

The case was 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.