Pittsburgh Psychiatrist Sentenced to Prison for Health Care Fraud, Illegally Distributing Oxycodone

PITTSBURGH- A Squirrel Hill psychiatrist has been sentenced in federal court to a year and a day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release including 12 months of community confinement, six months of home detention and 500 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution, on charges of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and health care fraud, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone imposed the sentence on Dr. Kenneth M. Stanko, 68, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

According to information presented to the court, Stanko, a medical doctor, illegally distributed a controlled substance, Oxycodone, for cash. Further, Stanko submitted false claims to be submitted to UPMC Health Plan and AETNA for prescriptions which were outside the usual course of practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.

Acting U.S. Attorney Song commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration for conducting the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Stanko.