A Kentucky dentist was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for his unlawful prescribing of opioids, including morphine that caused the death of one of his patients.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. Jay M. Sadrinia, 61, of Villa Hills, owned and operated dental clinics in Crescent Springs, Kentucky. Sadrinia prescribed powerful opioids to his patients for routine dental procedures despite clear signs, including notes within Sadrinia’s own patient charts, that these patients suffered from substance abuse disorder. Sadrinia’s unlawful prescribing of morphine to one patient led to her death. Sadrinia charged the patient $37,000 for dental procedures and prescribed the patient medically unnecessary quantities of narcotics, including morphine. Several days later, the patient fatally overdosed on the morphine.
A federal jury convicted Sadrinia in June 2023 of unlawful distribution of controlled substances and unlawful distribution of controlled substances resulting in death.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge Michael Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
The DEA and FBI investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Katherine Payerle and Trial Attorney Thomas Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.