Munster Doctor Enters A Guilty Plea

HAMMOND - Jay Kaushik Joshi, age 34, of Burr Ridge, Illinois entered a plea of guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.  

“Prescribing controlled substances that are not medically necessary intensify the national opioid problem facing this country.  Today’s guilty plea should be a warning to other doctors who engage in such practice.  When we identify doctors prescribing opioids in this manner, we will prosecute them,” said U.S. Attorney Kirsch.  

According to documents in this case, Joshi practiced medicine at Prestige Clinics in Munster, Indiana.  Joshi is a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine in the State of Indiana and until November 21, 2017 was registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration to Prescribe Schedule II, III, IV and V controlled substances.  Between September of 2017 and December 2017, the DEA and Munster Police Department obtained information on Joshi’s history of prescribing controlled substances.  Indiana’s prescription monitoring program, INSPECT, was designed to serve as a tool to address the problem of prescription drug abuse and diversion of controlled substances.  Investigators obtained data from INSPECT and it is alleged that since April 2017, Joshi issued over 6000 prescriptions for controlled substances.  It is also alleged that Joshi ranked first in Lake County and ninth in the State of Indiana in the number of prescriptions written for controlled substances by DEA registered providers.  During the time-period alleged in the indictment, Joshi dispensed controlled substances that were not prescribed for a legitimate medical purpose and outside the scope of professional practice.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Munster, Indiana Police Department. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Mahoney.

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