Conviction Includes $5.4 Million in Health Care Fraud
Washington, DC – A Louisiana Doctor Sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for illegally distributing over 1.8 million opioid doses and defrauding health care programs of more than $5.4 million.
Illegal Prescription Scheme Uncovered
Adrian Dexter Talbot, M.D., 59, of Slidell, owned Medex Clinical Consultants (Medex), a clinic that accepted cash payments from individuals seeking prescriptions for highly addictive opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine.
Ignoring clear signs of drug-seeking behavior, Talbot continued issuing prescriptions without proper medical evaluations. In 2015, he took a full-time job in Pineville, Louisiana, but still controlled Medex’s operations. Instead of seeing patients, he pre-signed prescriptions, allowing staff to distribute controlled substances to individuals he never examined.
Fraudulent Billing and Medical Record Tampering
By 2016, Talbot hired another practitioner who, under his instruction, also pre-signed prescriptions in exchange for cash deposits into the clinic’s account. To hide the scheme, Talbot falsified patient records to make it appear as if he had examined those receiving prescriptions. Louisiana Doctor Sentenced
With his approval, these fraudulent prescriptions were billed to health care programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.
Conviction and Sentencing
A jury convicted Talbot on July 22, 2024, in the Eastern District of Louisiana on multiple charges, including:
- Conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances
- Four counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances
- Maintaining a drug-involved premises
- Conspiracy to commit health care fraud
Multi-Agency Investigation Leads to Conviction
The case was investigated by HHS-OIG, VA-OIG, FBI, and the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Officials announcing the sentencing included:
- Antoinette T. Bacon, Supervisory Official, DOJ Criminal Division
- Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge, HHS Office of Inspector General
- Kris Raper, Special Agent in Charge, VA Office of Inspector General
- Chad Yarbrough, Assistant Director, FBI Criminal Investigative Division
- Stephen A. Cyrus, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI New Orleans Field Office
- Liz Murrill, Louisiana Attorney General
A Warning for Medical Professionals
This case serves as a serious warning to doctors who exploit their authority to illegally distribute opioids. Those caught engaging in fraudulent medical practices risk federal prosecution, long prison sentences, and permanent loss of medical licenses.
For more updates on health care fraud and medical legal cases, visit MedLegalNews.com.
🔗 Source: U.S. Department of Justice.
