A 47-year-old former Las Vegas-area physician could face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine after pleading guilty in federal court to running a pill mill that unlawfully prescribed powerful painkillers including oxycodone.
A lawyer for Mahesh Kuthuru said Wednesday his client acknowledged that his practice, Desert Pain Management, was run recklessly and that medication was illegally prescribed.
Attorney Chris Rasmussen says Kuthuru surrendered his medical license and plans to return to India after serving prison time.
Kuthuru pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge of distribution of a controlled substance. He's due for sentencing Dec. 21.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden says Kuthuru was indicted in October 2014 after undercover officers obtained drugs also including Percocet and methadone at his practice in 2012.
