Dirty Doctor Pleads Guilty To Writing Illegal Opioid Prescriptions For Patients
SAN DIEGO - Physician Naga Raja Thota, a pain specialist with an office in El Cajon, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday, admitting that he fraudulently and illegally wrote prescriptions for hundreds of oxycodone and hydrocodone tablets for patients with no medical necessity, one of whom was a sex partner.
Thota pleaded guilty to seven counts of distributing and dispensing controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.
In his plea agreement, Thota admitted that in some instances, he prescribed the drugs in the names of the brother and father of one of the patients in order to supply her with the painkillers. The brother and father had no legitimate medical purpose for the painkillers, and no doctor-patient relationship with Thota.
“DEA is pleased to see that Mr. Thota is no longer able to take advantage of people in his care,” said DEA San Diego Special Agent in Charge William R. Sherman. “DEA’s mission is to protect the public who give their full trust to their physicians. When a physician violates that trust, we will use our full authority to ensure that individual is held accountable and unable to inflict further harm to the public”
If anyone has information regarding other victims we urge you to contact DEA (858) 616-4100 and ask for the Diversion Duty Agent.
