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Mohamad Och, age 65, of Worcester, was indicted on eight counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of health care fraud for allegedly illegally prescribing Adderall, Xanax and Klonopin to patients and running a health care fraud scheme.
According to U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Mendell, Och, who owned and operated Island Counseling Center (ICC), in Worcester, and has practiced psychiatry throughout the Commonwealth, repeatedly prescribed a combination of benzodiazepines and stimulants to patients without a legitimate medical purpose.
Specifically, it is alleged that on several occasions between August 2016 and March 2017, Och issued prescriptions for Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance, in combination with Xanax or Klonopin - both of which are Schedule IV controlled substances - to patients outside the usual course of professional practice.
It is further alleged that between January 2016 and July 2017, Och was involved in a scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting false and fraudulent claims tied to phony office visits that allowed him to obtain a greater reimbursement than he was entitled to.
If he is found guilty of prescribing a Schedule II controlled substance, Och could face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Following his appearance in federal court, Och was released and is scheduled to return at a later date.
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