BALTIMORE (AP) — A Baltimore gynecologist has pleaded guilty to illegally distributing powerful painkillers to patients.
Dr. John Yacoub pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics on Wednesday in federal court in Baltimore.
Yacoub, who had practiced gynecology and obstetrics in Maryland for 30 years, was charged in March, and voluntarily surrendered his medical license following a Maryland Board of Physicians investigation. Court papers say Yacoub had been illegally mailing prescriptions and drugs, including oxycodone, methadone and fentanyl, to his girlfriend in Nevada.
Prosecutors say Yacoub also wrote prescriptions to two additional patients for his girlfriend’s use. Authorities say one of those patients used Medicaid to fill the fraudulent prescriptions.
Yacoub faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23.
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