Pill Mill Doctor And Wife Sentenced To Federal Prison

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Dr. Edward Neil Feldman (76, Tampa) to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to prescribe controlled substances not for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice, for prescribing controlled substances that resulted in the deaths of three patients, and for money laundering. Yesterday, Kim Xuan Feldman (66, Tampa), Feldman’s wife, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for her part in the conspiracy to launder proceeds of the couple’s criminal medical clinic, Feldman Orthopedic and Wellness Center (FOWC), and for her role in the conspiracy to distribute prescription medications for no legitimate purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice. The couple dispensed primarily oxycodone and methadone, as well as alprazolam and diazepam. The Court also ordered the Feldmans to forfeit their home, a Mercedes Benz, an Infinity EX35, and $489,000 in cash, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. They were also ordered to forfeit the building that housed FOWC, as a property that facilitated their crimes. In addition, the Court entered a money judgment in the amount of $6,787,103.99, the proceeds of the criminal conduct. In partial satisfaction of the money judgment, the defendants forfeited jewelry, gold coins, and precious metals valued at $116,131, and a 2011 Porsche.

A federal jury found the Feldmans guilty on February 24, 2016.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, from October 2009 through December 2014, the Feldmans operated FOWC in Pinellas Park. The clinic saw between 80-100 patients a day, with new patients paying $300 in cash for visits, and follow-up patients paying $150-$225 for visits. Insurance was not accepted at FOWC. The Feldmans gave the patients prescriptions for controlled substances, usually in significant quantities, not for any legitimate medical purpose.  

During the trial, Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiners opined that three individuals had died as a result of multi-drug toxicity related to the large amounts of methadone, oxycodone, alprazolam, and diazepam found in their systems. Two of those patients had visited Dr. Feldman only once before their respective deaths. 

Evidence also showed that the couple deposited more than $5 million in cash in dozens of bank accounts during the period of the charged crimes. They used proceeds from FOWC to purchase their home and property for their business, and to fund investment accounts.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shauna S. Hale and Kaitlin R. O’Donnell.