NORTHSHORE DOCTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
PAUL E. NATHAN, M. D., age 48, a resident of Mandeville, Louisiana, pled guilty today in federal court before U. S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. to a ten count indictment relating to his fraudulently obtaining controlled substances,, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the factual basis, the defendant is a medical doctor who previously operated several vascular clinics on the Northshore. On August 8, 2008, the defendant voluntarily surrendered his DEA controlled substance privileges and agreed to a revocation of his registration number. As a result, the defendant was barred from prescribing or dispensing controlled substances for himself or others. Subsequent to that date, the defendant continued to write prescriptions at various pharmacies in St. Tammany Parish using the DEA number which he surrendered in August 2008. The defendant generally obtained oxycontin (oxycodone) although he also obtained other pain killers and sleeping aids. This combination of drugs, that is, pain killers and sleeping aids, is common for prescription drug abusers. The defendant listed either himself or a family member on the prescription as the patient.
NATHAN faces a possible maximum sentence of four (4) years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine as to each count. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 28, 2010.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisiana State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Mark A. Miller, Chief, Organized Crime Strike Force Unit and Assistant United States Attorney Brian P. Marcelle.
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