Pubdate: Wed, 19 Feb 2003
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2003 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Author: Roger Alford, Associated Press
Note: Staff writer Gideon Gil contributed to this story.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

DOCTOR PLEADS GUILTY IN PAINKILLER-ABUSE CASE

He Agrees To Help In U.S. Probes Of Other Health-Care Workers

PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- A physician caught in a crackdown on the illegal trade in 
prescription drugs in Eastern Kentucky has entered a guilty plea that could 
put him in prison for up to 20 years.

Frederick Cohn, 71, of Albuquerque, N.M., reached a plea deal with 
prosecutors that will require him to cooperate in investigations of other 
health-care professionals, said U.S. Attorney Gregory Van Tatenhove.

"This is an important guilty plea as we take the fight against 
prescription-drug abuse to the next level by focusing on holding health 
professionals accountable," Van Tatenhove said. "Dr. Cohn's conduct is the 
most egregious kind that we've seen out there in taking advantage of those 
who end up becoming enslaved to these prescription drugs."

Cohn was indicted in August 2001 along with a colleague, Yakov Gregorevich 
Drabovsky, 54, of Paintsville, on 18 counts of prescribing painkillers 
without a legitimate medical purpose. They operated a pain clinic in 
Paintsville.

In his guilty plea, accepted yesterday by U.S. District Judge Karen 
Caldwell in London, Cohn admitted to having dispensed up to 1 million 
painkilling pills without a legitimate medical purpose, conspiring to 
conduct financial transactions with money from unlawful activity, and 
committing federal health-care fraud by submitting false invoices to Medicaid.

Cohn is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 23 in U.S. District Court in London. 
His attorney couldn't be reached immediately for comment.

In addition to a prison term, Cohn could be fined up to $1 million. Under 
the plea agreement, he will forfeit $200,000 in proceeds from his offenses.

"We're going to hold those who abuse these drugs accountable, but we're 
particularly concerned right now in this office about those who are preying 
on a large segment of our population, and doing it at great financial 
benefit to themselves," Van Tatenhove said. "We feel like we have the 
greatest impact on the problem right now by focusing on health professionals."

Cohn and Drabovsky were arrested on Aug. 2, 2001, on a criminal complaint 
and were released on bond.

Seven people waiting to get into their office when federal and state 
authorities raided it two years ago were arrested on charges of driving 
under the influence of drugs.

Cohn received a medical license in Kentucky in 1993 but was placed on two 
years' probation and ordered to never practice obstetric medicine or 
perform abortions in the state. Cohn had been put on probation in New 
Mexico for 10 years in 1986 for "providing inappropriate patient care."

Van Tatenhove said Cohn's cooperation in other federal cases could have an 
impact on his sentence.

Before opening a clinic in Paintsville, Cohn worked at a clinic in South 
Shore that was owned by Dr. David Procter. Procter was indicted by a 
federal grand jury last year on charges of conspiring to distribute 
prescription drugs without a legitimate medical purpose.

Procter is accused of having employed Cohn and three other doctors who 
allegedly prescribed narcotics illegally. One pleaded guilty before Cohn 
did and also has been required to cooperate with federal prosecutors. Two 
others are awaiting trial in state courts.

State and federal law-enforcement officials have been cracking down on the 
black market in addictive prescription drugs, including OxyContin, a 
painkiller blamed for dozens of deaths in Eastern Kentucky.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager