Two doctors among those charged in $7M opioid distribution scheme
Four individuals have been charged in an illegal conspiracy to distribute opioids, including two doctors. The operator of a medical clinic and a patient recruiter have also been indicted, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed on Thursday in an unsealed criminal complaint.
Federal authorities allege that Shakeeb Chinoy, 55; Sunil Manjila-Varghese, 53; Rommel Harvey, 43; and Gregory Sparks, 42, all engaged in a scheme to distribute thousands of opioid prescriptions to patients in Michigan without recipients having a legitimate medical need.
The alleged crimes resulted in 400,000 doses of painkillers, including oxycodone and codeine, making their way into the hands of people who did not need them—the street value of which is roughly $7 million, the DOJ said.
Additionally, the defendants are accused of billing Medicare and Medicaid for some of the prescriptions to the tune of $1 million. However, details on the alleged conspiracy are sparse, as the DOJ did not reveal specifics about how it operated. The alleged scheme is said to have taken place from November 2023 to June 2025, with the four men being indicted on Aug. 6.
Three enter not guilty pleas
After a hearing where they pleaded not guilty on all counts, Manjila-Varghese, Harvey and Sparks were released on $10,000 bond each. Chinoy was detained on Aug. 14 during a court appearance. His hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18.
The DOJ said the alleged actions of the four men contributed to the opioid crisis in Michigan and put the safety of patients at risk, in addition to defrauding the government. Multiple federal agencies collaborated on the investigation into the conspiracy, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Trial dates have yet to be set. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty, and an indictment is not a determination of guilt.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.