Reno Doctor And Seven Others Arrested And Indicted For Trafficking Oxycodone And Hydrocodone Prescriptions

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An indictment by a federal grand jury was unsealed today charging a doctor and seven others for conspiring to distribute Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.

Myron Motley, 55, of Richmond, California; Eric Math, M.D., 50, of Reno; Michael Kwoka, 56, of Fair Oaks, California; Michael Slater, 42, of Reno; Joseph Jeannette, 51, of Reno; Ivy Elliott, 35, of  Reno; and Alesia Sampson, 56, of Grass Valley, California, are all charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute Oxycodone. Motley and Elliott are also charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine. Motley is also charged with four counts of distribution of Oxycodone and one count of distribution of Hydrocodone, Math and Slater are also each charged with one count of distribution of Oxycodone and one count of distribution of Hydrocodone, and Kwoka and Elliot are also charged with one count of distribution of Oxycodone. In a separate indictment, Motley and Randy Raihall, 58, of Reno, are each charged with one count of distribution of Oxycodone.

Motley was arrested in Richmond, California this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned today before United State Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore in Oakland, California. Kowka and Sampson were arrested in Fair Oaks and Grass Valley this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney in Sacramento, California. Math, Jeannette, Slater, Elliott, and Raihall are scheduled to be arraigned today at 3:00 pm before United States Magistrate Judge Carla Baldwin Carry in Reno.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, from January 2018 to May 2019, the defendants conspired to possess and distribute Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, each a schedule II controlled substance, with Dr. Math issuing prescriptions for the same without a medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice.

The mandatory minimum is 10 years in prison and the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone are among the most common drugs involved in prescription opioid overdose deaths. Oxycodone and other Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse that can lead to addiction, overdose, and sometimes death.

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The joint investigation was conducted by the FBI; the Reno Police Department; Nevada Highway Patrol; the Department of Welfare and Social Services Nevada; the Office of the Attorney General; the Carson City Sheriff’s Office; the Nevada Department of Corrections; the Nevada Gaming Control Board; the Sparks Police Department; the University of Nevada-Reno Police Department; and the IRS-Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James E. Keller.

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