Smith County doctor charged after prescribing millions of unnecessary pills: DOJ

SMITH COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Gordonsville doctor accused of prescribing controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose has been indicted as part of the Department of Justice’s National Health Care Fraud Takedown, officials said.

On Tuesday, the DOJ announced criminal charges against 455 people as part of a two-week crackdown that officials say involved more than $6.5 billion in false claims submitted to insurers.

Among those charged was 55-year-old Angela Moss, who reportedly owned and operated Gordonsville Clinic. The indictment alleges that she “issued prescriptions totaling more than 5.6 million pills and doses of controlled substances” to patients for more than eight years.

According to the DOJ, the excessive quantities and combinations of controlled substances contributed to patient abuse, misuse, and addiction. Moss is accused of failing to monitor her patients’ use of prescribed controlled substances and continuing to prescribe excessive amounts of drugs even after receiving warnings, including from the Tennessee Department of Health.

“Medical professionals occupy positions of extraordinary trust and responsibility,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “When that trust is abused through the unlawful prescribing of controlled substances, patients can suffer serious harm, addiction can flourish, and taxpayer-funded health care programs can be defrauded. Our office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who contribute to prescription drug abuse and health care fraud.”

Moss was charged with seven counts of health care fraud and twelve counts of unauthorized distribution of controlled substances, per the federal indictment.The case — which was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation — is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Suedekum.

No additional information was immediately released.