The doctors were not "in" at a well-known allergy and pain clinic in Webster on Wednesday.
Undercover DEA agents and officials with the Department of Health and Human services closed down what the FBI calls a "pill mill".
Dr. Arun Sharma and his wife, Dr. Kiran Sharma, M.D., both 54, are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. A criminal complaint says the couple defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance nearly $9 million. Sources close to the investigation say the alleged fraud could be three times that. The FBI calls it a staggering dollar amount--that's connected to just two people.
The criminal complaint claims the Sharmas used their allergy and pain clinics in Webster and Baytown. They allegedly saw 70 patients a day in their offices. The complaint says many of them were "profoundly" addicted to narcotics. One patient allegedly received 92 prescriptions in seven months.
The complaint alleges Dr Sharma prescribed over 615,000 tablets of Vicodan, 66,000 tablets of Xanax, and 26,000 tablets of Valium over the last nine months.
"Lots of traffic, 3 cars deep, they come and go all day long when he's in clinic," said Laurie Gruver, who works across the street.
Federal agents also say they found $700,000 in the Sharma's home.
$816,000 was found two bank safe deposit boxes accessed by Dr Sharma.
Dr. Kiran Sharma was taken into federal custody today and will remain in custody pending her appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge Thursday. Her husband, Dr. Arun Sharma, is expected to surrender to federal authorities.
Undercover DEA agents and officials with the Department of Health and Human services closed down what the FBI calls a "pill mill".
Dr. Arun Sharma and his wife, Dr. Kiran Sharma, M.D., both 54, are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. A criminal complaint says the couple defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance nearly $9 million. Sources close to the investigation say the alleged fraud could be three times that. The FBI calls it a staggering dollar amount--that's connected to just two people.
The criminal complaint claims the Sharmas used their allergy and pain clinics in Webster and Baytown. They allegedly saw 70 patients a day in their offices. The complaint says many of them were "profoundly" addicted to narcotics. One patient allegedly received 92 prescriptions in seven months.
The complaint alleges Dr Sharma prescribed over 615,000 tablets of Vicodan, 66,000 tablets of Xanax, and 26,000 tablets of Valium over the last nine months.
"Lots of traffic, 3 cars deep, they come and go all day long when he's in clinic," said Laurie Gruver, who works across the street.
Federal agents also say they found $700,000 in the Sharma's home.
$816,000 was found two bank safe deposit boxes accessed by Dr Sharma.
Dr. Kiran Sharma was taken into federal custody today and will remain in custody pending her appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge Thursday. Her husband, Dr. Arun Sharma, is expected to surrender to federal authorities.
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