America
Cardiologist pleads guilty to unlawful distribution of opioids

RENO, Nev. – Dr. Devendra I. Patel, aka Devendrakumar I. Patel, 59, of Elko, a cardiologist, pleaded guilty to distributing highly addictive prescription drugs Oxycodone and Hydrocodone to patients without a medical purpose, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.
Dr. Patel, who owns and operates Northeastern Nevada Cardiology, was indicted by a grand jury last December. United States District Judge Larry R. Hicks accepted the guilty plea.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2019. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The investigation revealed Patel contributed to the opioid epidemic by unlawfully prescribing opioids and other prescription narcotics to patients for financial gain. As part of his plea, Patel admitted that, between September 2015 and February 2016, he prescribed Oxycodone (such as OxyContin) and Hydrocodone (such as Norco) to patients without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice.
These prescriptions were in direct violation of his duty as a long-term licensed medical doctor. His license was suspended upon his arrest in December. Patel’s prescribing practices allowed him to see a high volume of patients and easily prescribe and sell the opioids, while not addressing any legitimate medical concerns of his patients.
According to the CDC, approximately 115 Americans die every day of an opioid-related overdose.
From 2010 to 2016, opioid-related hospitalizations have increased by 136% in emergency room encounters and 84% in in-patient admissions.












