WASHINGTON — An Arlington, Virginia surgeon is heading to federal prison for charges of writing fake prescriptions to oxycodone addicts.
FBI investigators say Dr. Derron Simon admitted to writing the painkiller prescriptions for people he’d never treated. Investigators say he pocketed thousands of dollars.
“Sometimes between $500 to $1,000 for each fraudulent prescription that was written,” says FBI special agent TIM Gallagher.
Simon, whose practice was last listed on Lee Highway in Arlington, admitted to writing the prescriptions despite knowing that the people who filled the prescriptions were abusing and selling the drugs.
While working to stamp out health care fraud, federal investigators came upon an oxycodone ring involving seven people, including Simon. The ring was led by a health professional.
Six co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to charges in the case. Simon is responsible for distributing 11, 000 30mg oxycodone pills in Northern Virginia, Gallagher says.
“Dr. Simon was sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for his role in this conspiracy,” Gallagher says.
While it may seem like a harsh sentence for a doctor, he says Simon was prosecuted in the same way a street dealer would be.
“There’s no differentiation from individuals who may sell heroin on the street corner of D.C. versus a health care professional putting illegal narcotics on the streets,” Gallagher says.
The Virginia Board of Medicine revoked Simon’s license permanently.
