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Charged with illegal distribution of opioids, healthcare conspiracies
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Pennsylvania-based Dr Neil Anand convicted of multi-million-dollar healthcare fraud, opioid distribution, and money laundering offences
Indian-origin physician Dr Neil K Anand, 48, from Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for orchestrating healthcare fraud, wire fraud, unlawful opioid distribution, and money laundering conspiracies.
In addition to the prison term, he has been ordered to pay more than $2 million (₹17 crore) in restitution and another $2 million in forfeiture, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Court documents show Anand conspired to submit false claims to health plans administered by Medicare, the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Independence Blue Cross (IBC), and Anthem. These fraudulent claims were tied to so-called “Goody Bags” of medically unnecessary prescription medications dispensed through in-house pharmacies he owned. In total, insurers paid over $2.4 million in reimbursements.
Anand conspired to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and private insurers while also prescribing opioids without legitimate medical purpose, prosecutors revealed
Investigators revealed that Anand also conspired to unlawfully distribute oxycodone. Using pre-signed blank prescriptions, unlicensed medical interns issued prescriptions for controlled substances. Anand himself prescribed more than 20,850 oxycodone tablets to just nine patients. After learning of the federal investigation, he attempted to conceal $1.2 million in proceeds by transferring them into an account under a relative’s name for the benefit of a minor.
In April 2025, Anand was convicted of multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit healthcare and wire fraud, healthcare fraud, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of money laundering, and four counts of unlawful monetary transactions.
The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Service OIG, and OPM OIG. Trial Attorneys Paul J Koob, Patrick J Campbell, and Arun Bodapati prosecuted the case.
Authorities noted that Anand’s conviction reflects the broader crackdown led by the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which since its inception in 2007 has charged over 5,800 defendants for schemes amounting to more than $30 billion in fraudulent claims.
