CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Huntington doctor who previously admitted to promoting the illegal distribution of opioid medication was sentenced Thursday to more than seven years in prison for conspiring to launder money.
Dr. John Pellegrini, D.O. worked as a physician at the HOPE Clinic in Beckley and was authorized to write prescriptions for controlled substances for medical purposes despite lacking experience in treating chronic pain patients.
He also previously admitted pleaded guilty to writing illegal prescriptions as they were not for legitimate medical purposes. Pellegrini received bonuses for his work from the customer payments, and he wrote additional prescriptions after being motivated by the bonuses.
Pellegrini was sentenced to 87 months in prison. He will also be responsible for forfeiting more than $574,000 to the United States.