Greensburg doctor found guilty of illegally dispensing opioids

Paul Peirce | Friday, October 18, 2019 12:59 p.m.

A federal jury deliberated for eight hours Thursday before convicting a Westmoreland County family practice doctor of illegally dispensing opioids.

Dr. Milad Shaker, 50, was found guilty of 14 counts of illegal dispensing of opioids, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said.

The original 54-count indictment in October 2018 said Shaker exchanged painkillers including Vicodin, Percocet and Tramadol in exchange for sexual favors. He also was charged with health care fraud for claims submitted to Highmark and Aetna health plans in order to receive payments to cover the cost of the unlawfully prescribed medication.

Shaker, who operated family practice and urgent care clinics in Donegal and Mt. Pleasant, was tried before U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon in Pittsburgh.

“The conviction of Milad Shaker reflects this office’s commitment to prosecuting unethical physicians who are responsible for the opioid crisis through their illegal prescribing of scheduled substances,” Brady said in a statement. “Shaker’s own statements at trial demonstrate his callous and complete disregard for the health of his patient and the potential damage of his actions.”

Brady said trial evidence established that from October 2014 through March 2017 Shaker illegally dispensed opioid medications to a patient in return for sex and sexually explicit photos and texts.

According to testimony, Shaker would meet the patient at various hotels in Westmoreland and Fayette counties and at two locations on the side of the road to engage in sex in return for opioid prescriptions. The jury also found Shaker exchanged painkillers for texts containing sexually explicit images of the patient.

During cross examination, Shaker, in defending his illegal prescribing, testified that, “opioids are like candy,” and “10 to 20 opioid pills will not hurt you,” Brady said in a news release.

Court dockets said as part of his release pending sentencing, Bissoon ordered Shaker to cease practicing medicine.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 20.

The law provides for a potential maximum sentence of 140 years in prison, a fine of $3.5 million or both. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Cessar and Mark V. Gurzo prosecuted the case.