CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Fairmont doctor at the center of an illegal prescription drug distribution ring run out of her Bridgeport medical practice must spend five years in prison.
Dr. Edita Milan, 76, is scheduled to self-report to federal prison July 13 to begin the 60-month sentence issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley.
Patients of Milan were routinely given prescription pills without an adequate physical examination, according to investigators with tthe U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. Additionally, Milan allowed members of her staff to utilize her DEA registration number to prescribe narcotic painkillers outside the standard course of medical practice.
“Physicians and pharmacists play a key role in our efforts to address the drug epidemic in West Virginia,” U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld said. “We have to be able to rely upon them to exercise sound judgment and uphold the standard of care that their offices demand. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to educating medical professionals on the proper prescribing and dispensing of narcotic medications and equally committed to prosecuting those that do not abide by the rules.”
Milan pleaded no contest in December to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of distribution of schedule III and IV substances, one count of distribution of schedule II and IV substances and two counts of distribution of schedule II controlled substances.
As part of Tuesday’s sentence, Milan was also ordered to pay restitution in excess of $3,000 to the estate of a patient who died as a result of prescription painkillers distributed by the doctor.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.
Many codefendants in the case have received their sentences, including former Bridgeport Mayor Mario Blount, who was sentenced to 3 years at FCI Morgantown in February.