BECKLEY, W.Va. — Testimony began Monday in the federal criminal trial of former Raleigh County health care clinic owner Dr. Michael Kostenko.
Kostenko faces 22 criminal counts linked to distributing oxycodone outside the bounds of a medical practice and distributing the drug that resulted in two deaths.
Federal prosecutors allege Kostenko, who owned and operated the Coal Country Clinic in Daniels, readily handed out pills that led many of his patients to addiction that they still battle today. The defense told the jury Kostenko didn’t operate a pill mill just a different type of medical practice, which was not illegal.
Eight men and four women have been chosen to hear the case in U.S. District Court in Beckley.
Testimony is scheduled to continue Tuesday.