What Happened
A federal jury in Columbus convicted Ohio doctor Eskender Getachew, 58, of Galena, in June 2023 on 11 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Evidence showed he unlawfully prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines, including Subutex to patients for whom the drug was not indicated, and that the number of pills depended on the amount patients paid at visits. He continued prescribing despite reports that patients were selling their Subutex. Getachew faces up to 20 years in prison on each count, and no sentencing date had been set.
“The jury convicted Getachew of 11 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.”
Related Guidance
- 15 Red Flags of Drug Diversion — Behavioral and transactional indicators of diversion.
- Investigation Playbook — How to investigate suspected diversion inside an organization.