Wednesday, May 25, 2011 | 2:03 p.m.
A federal grand jury indicted a Las Vegas doctor for selling prescriptions for controlled substances to persons who lacked medical necessity for the drugs, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said today.
Dr. James Tinnell, 74, is charged with 12 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, specifically oxycodone and hydrocodone. The indictment was returned by the grand jury May 18 and unsealed today.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office has partnered with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to fight prescription drug abuse in Nevada,” Bogden said. “Part of this effort includes the targeting and investigation of local physicians who are unlawfully writing and selling prescriptions that are not being issued for a legitimate medical purpose or in the usual course of professional practice.”
Federal agents arrested Tinnell Tuesday. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence Leavitt today. If convicted, Tinnell faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
According to the indictment, Tinnell maintained a medical practice at 2900 E. Desert Inn Road, Suite 108. He represented himself to be a specialist in pain management and an advocate of medical marijuana therapy. Between June 10, 2010, and April 26 Tinnell allegedly sold prescriptions for large quantities of various highly addictive prescription drugs, including Percocet (oxycodone), Hydrocodone, Xanax and Soma, without medical necessity.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Crane Pomerantz.
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