United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MAR 22 - HARTFORD, Conn - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Ljudmil Kljusev, M.D., 52, of Fairfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 26 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing controlled substances outside of the scope of professional practice, and health care fraud.  Judge Thompson also ordered Kljusev to pay a $17,500 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kljusev, who operated a psychiatry practice in Milford, was a high-volume prescriber of Adderall and Xanax to patients, many of whom paid for office visits and prescriptions in cash.  Adderall, which is classified as a Schedule II drug by the DEA, is the brand name for a drug containing a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, both of which are central nervous system stimulants.  This combination of drugs is used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity (“ADHD”).  Xanax, which is classified as a Schedule IV drug by the DEA, is a brand name for a drug containing Alprazolam, a benzodiazepine drug.  Alprazolam is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders or panic disorders.

The investigation, which included the use of confidential witnesses and an undercover officer posing as patients, revealed that Kljusev prescribed the drugs without a full medical examination of the patient, provided prescriptions without confirming conditions that would medically require treatment using these drugs and dispensed prescriptions in exchange for cash to patients who display substance abuse and addiction behaviors.  Kljusev also directed non-physician employees to write prescriptions signed by Kljusev when he was out of the country.

In 2014 and 2015, Kljusev improperly billed private health insurers approximately $76,983 for medical services rendered when he was out of the country.

Kljusev has been detained since his arrest on November 12, 2015.  On November 30, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics, and one count of health care fraud.  As part of the resolution of this case, Kljusev has agreed to forfeit a property located at 227 Naugatuck Avenue in Milford, where his practice was based, $173,095.20 in cash that was seized from his office on the day of his arrest, and $117,431.13 that was contained in his business checking account.  Judge Thompson also ordered Kljusev to pay restitution in the total amount of $31,081.05 to two victim health insurers.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Milford Police Department.  The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, Greenwich, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, Shelton, Vernon and Wilton Police Departments.