California

Doctors Arrested for Allegedly Writing Illegal Prescriptions for Cash, Supplying Gang Members

"The powerful drugs in this case, which include addictive painkillers, can kill users who abuse them," said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker

Two doctors were arrested and charged after turning themselves in for selling prescription drugs without a medical purpose, including to gang members targeted in a massive arrest of more than a dozen gang members Friday, authorities said Monday.

Sonny Oparah, 75 of Long Beach, and Edward Ridgill, 64, of Ventura both operated medical offices in Lynnwood, according to the United States Attorney’s Office’s Central District of California. They both surrendered to federal authorities Friday and appeared in court before they were released on bond later that afternoon.

"The investigation determined that these doctors were significant suppliers of drugs to a street gang," said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. "As the charges in the indictments demonstrate, these doctors enabled the gang’s criminal activity just like street-level drug dealers."

The doctors are charged for allegedly writing illegal prescriptions of hydrocodone, known as Vicodin or Norco, codeine, alprazolam, known as Xanax, and carisoprodol, and a muscle relaxer commonly known as Soma, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. All of the drugs were prescribed at or near maximum strength.

Between July 2014 and July 2015, Oparah wrote almost 13,000 prescriptions for the drugs, while Ridgill issued over 21,000 prescriptions for the drugs between July 2011 and July 2014, according to the affidavit.

"The powerful drugs in this case, which include addictive painkillers, can kill users who abuse them," Decker said.

The affidavit also detailed how the two doctors sold prescriptions for cash during 12 undercover operations led by the Drug Enforcement Adminsitration, and how in most cases, the doctors never examined the undercover officer or cooperating witness, according to the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

After a medical expert reviewed recordings of the operations independently, he said Oparah’s "'actions are very alarming' and the evidence reflects 'extreme departures from the standard of care,'" according to the affidavit.

Their arrests were made in conjunction with "Operation Money Bags," which targeted and arrested members of the East Coast Crips gang in connection with 5,000 residential burglaries across Southern California.

Police said Friday that they had linked over 53 gang members to the burglaries.

Authorities started investigating Oparah and Ridgill when the investigation into the East Coast Crips showed that "Oparah and Ridgill served as large-scale sources of supply to [gang] members and associates via there issuance of medically unnecessary controlled drug prescriptions," according to the federal affidavit.

A federal investigation determined that they both "operated cash businesses," and federal authorities seized cash from both men, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Ridgill's bank records showed he had deposited $500,000 cash into his accounts in less than three years.

Both doctors were scheduled to be arraigned in federal court on Sept. 15. Their cases were being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Barron of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

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