Michigan Doc Wrote Fake Scripts For Millions Of Painkillers: Feds

DETROIT, MI – A Livonia doctor has been indicted on charges health care fraud and illegally distributing prescription drugs, according to a court filings made public on Tuesday. Additionally, seven other people who authorities say were part of his distribution network also were indicted.

Dr. Zongli Chang, 52, of Novi, prescribed more than 2.7 million doses of controlled substances Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Oxycodone HCl, Alprazolam, Carisoprodol and Promethazine/codeine syrup, according to the indictment. The street value of the drugs was estimated at $18 million.

"Our office has no tolerance for corrupt doctors who are making Michigan’s opioid crisis even worse by unnecessarily prescribing drugs," said U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider.

Federal investigators allege in the indictment that from January 2012 to May of 2017, Chang engaged in a
large-scale drug diversion scheme, where he wrote prescriptions for the highly addictive drugs in return for cash payments.

Chang relied on "patient recruiters" to bring fake patients, who were actually acquaintances of the recruiters, to his office, authorities said. After a cursory exam – or no exam at all – Chang would prescribe the patients medications, according to the indictment. In exchange for the prescriptions, the recruiters would pay Chang cash, authorities said.

The recruiters would pay their acquaintances for participating, and then take the prescriptions and distribute then illegally, authorities said.

Federal authorities charged the so-called "patient recruiters" with conspiracy to distribute the prescription drugs. Those indicted are: Darryl Parker, 56, of Detroit, Tye Chandler, 26, of Detroit, Karen Hall, 57, of Detroit, Deangelo Givhan, 28, of Detroit, Yolanda Cannon, 39, of Detroit, Melvin McGuire, 48, of Detroit, and Khary Tremble, 44, of Detroit.

Federal authorities said that during a search of Chang's Novi home, agents found and seized $603,136 in cash. Authorities said Chang lost his medical license last May.

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