"Monster with a Stethoscope" Nevada Drug-dealing MD Now Sits in Prison
In the city of Reno Federal Court Judge Miranda Du has sentenced a drug-pushing physician to 10 years in prison.
Doctor Robert Rand, age 53, who operated a sham clinic out of an auto dealership called Jones West Ford, was handcuffed in court and taken off to Nevada's federal prison in November. At sentencing, Judge Du told the court that physicians like Rand, who show a reckless disregard for life, are fueling societal addiction to narcotics.
"Doctors like Rand are enablers and contribute to the opioid crisis in this community," Du said. "He is a monster with a stethoscope."
The court also ordered that Rand must repay $11,000 in restitution to the family of Michael Yenick, a patient who died of an overdose in October 2015, as well as a $25,000 fine.
In tears, Rand apologized to Yenick's family and others in the court room who had lost loved ones under his care.
During the trial, medical experts testified that Rand's routine of prescribing higher and higher doses of OxyContin with no adequate medical assessments, created a clientele of addicted citizens.
Prosecutors were able to prove that Rand prescribed more narcotic pills than any other doctor in Northern Nevada - 400,000 more.
According to federal investigators, the following people were also co-conspirators arrested and facing charges in this case last year:
All were either employees or in some way associated with Jones West Ford Dealership in Reno
Richard Winston West, age 38
Omar Ahsan Ahmad, age 31
Joshua Ross Green, age 34
Clint Mitchell Bloodworth, age 40
Kathleen Griffin, age 43
Alan R Martinez, age 59
Braden Kyle Riley, age 40
Ryan Daniel Smith, age 40
Here's another look at this "made for TV movie" case: