Cardiologist Pleads Guilty to Distributing Opioids

Wednesday, November 28, 2018 | 0

A cardiologist in northern Nevada pleaded guilty to illegally distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone to patients without a medical purpose, federal prosecutors announced.

Devendra I. Patel
(Washoe County photo)

Dr. Devendra I. Patel, 59, pleaded guilty on Monday. The 59-year-old from Elko, also known as Devendrakumar I. Patel, was indicted by a grand jury in December 2017.

Patel admitted to prescribing Norco and OxyContin to patients without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of his practice.

“Patel’s prescribing practices allowed him to see a high volume of patients and easily prescribe and sell the opioids, while not addressing any legitimate medical concerns of his patients,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Patel faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine at a March 18 sentencing hearing.