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Last updated 9:56 am CT February 09, 2010.
Doctor Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges
Dr. Sukhdarshan S. Bedi, 56, of Energy faces up to 20 years in prison for illegally prescribing methadone and for trying to cover up the crime.
Dr. Bedi operated three clinics in Marion, Harrisburg and Galatia.
According to a news release from the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Dr. Bedi surrendered his medical license and agreed to pay nearly $50,000 in restitution to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
Below is the Official News Release
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced today that
on November 4, 2009, Dr. SUKHDARSHAN S. BEDI, 56, of Energy, Illinois, and his three health care clinics pled to various charges in the United States District Court in Benton, Illinois. Dr. BEDI pled to the following: (a) obstruction of justice in Counts 1 and 2, which carries penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; (b) tampering with a witness in Count 3, which carries penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; and (c) illegal dispensation of controlled substances, Methadone, in Count 6, which carries penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both.
Dr. BEDI's corporations, ILLINOIS HEALTHCARE CLINIC, P.C. d/b/a MARION
FAMILY HEALTH CARE; M-CFHC, INC. d/b/a HARRISBURG FAMILY HEALTHCARE; and
GALATIA MEDICAL CENTER CORP., pled to the following: (a) conspiracy to illegally dispense a
controlled substance in Count 7, which carries penalties of up to 5 years' probation, a fine of up to $5,000,000, or both; and (b) health care fraud in Count 12, which carries penalties of up to 5 years' probation, a fine of up to $500,000, or both.
Dr. BEDI agreed to voluntarily surrender his medical license and to withdraw his application
for reinstatement of his DEA Registration. He also agreed to pay criminal restitution in the amount of $47,784.31 to the Medical program administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
Upon sentencing, the Government agrees to dismiss remaining counts. The three corporations agreed to be jointly and severally responsible with Dr. BEDI for paying the criminal restitution.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of
Inspector General; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Illinois State Police; the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group; and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Quinley and Liam Coonan.
Now: 1265731509
