Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Pennsylvania

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Dentist Charged with Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substances, Health Care Fraud, and Omitting Information on DEA Form

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on charges of Distribution of Hydrocodone and Oxycodone, Schedule II and III controlled substances, outside the usual course of professional practice; Using or Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Health Care Fraud; and Omitting Material Information From Required Reports, Records, and Other Documents, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

The 200-count superseding indictment named Daniel Garner, 45, a dentist who practiced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.

According to the Superseding Indictment, from on or about November 13, 2012, through on or about June 11, 2015, Garner distributed Hydrocodone and/or Oxycodone, Schedule II and III controlled substances, on 196 occasions, outside the usual course of professional practice. The Superseding Indictment also alleges that from in and around July 2011 through in and around March 2015 and from in and around March 2015 through in and around August 2015, Garner knowingly and intentionally used and maintained his dental office for the purpose of unlawfully distributing controlled substances. Further, the Superseding Indictment alleges that from in and around February 2010 through in and around August 2015, Garner committed health care fraud. The Superseding Indictment further alleges that on January 14, 2016, Garner omitted material information from an application for a Drug Enforcement Agency registration number.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence on all counts of incarceration of up to 3,974 years, a fine of $197,500,000, a term of supervised release of 598 years, or all. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Daniel Garner.

Topic(s): 

Healthcare Fraud

Component(s): 

USAO - Pennsylvania, Western