Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Doctor admits to illegally prescribing 120,000 opioid pills
FILE - This Aug. 29, 2018, photo shows an arrangement of prescription Oxycodone pills. A Southern California doctor pleaded guilty Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, to writing prescriptions for more than 120,000 opioid pills over a six-year span, including to an impaired driver who struck and killed a bicyclist, federal prosecutors said. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Latest News
October 9, 2022

Doctor admits to illegally prescribing 120,000 opioid pills

SANTA ANA, California (AP) — A Southern California doctor has pleaded guilty to writing prescriptions for more than 120,000 opioid pills over a six-year span, including to an impaired driver who struck and killed a bicyclist, federal prosecutors said.

In his plea agreement, Dr Dzung Ahn Pham of Tustin admitted to distributing the pills without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash and insurance payments. He pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, the Orange County Register reported.

Pham faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on January 6, 2023, the newspaper said.

From January 1, 2013 and December 17, 2018, Pham wrote prescriptions for around 53,000 Oxycodone pills, 68,000 hydrocodone pills and 29,000 pills of amphetamine salts using 18 different patient names, according to his plea agreement.

Pham’s record of prescribing large amounts of pills led a CVS pharmacy to stop accepting prescriptions from him when he couldn’t justify the number of pills patients were picking up, prosecutors said when charges were filed in 2018.

Pham conspired with Jennifer Thaoyen Nguyen, 51, a licensed pharmacist who also has agreed to enter a guilty plea for the same felony charge later this month, court records show.

Pham directed his patients to Nguyen’s pharmacy to fill his prescriptions because he knew other pharmacies would not, according to court documents.

A man who fatally struck an off-duty firefighter training on his bike for a triathlon told investigators he was on drugs prescribed by Pham, prosecutors said. Several prescription bottles with Pham’s name were found in the driver’s car.

Stephen Scarpa was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Costa Mesa fire Captain Mike Kreza. Pham was not charged in the death.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Put labour matters under one ministry, says Hinds
Latest News, News
Put labour matters under one ministry, says Hinds
May 20, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—With issues relating to labour spread across different ministries, Opposition Spokesman on Labour and Sport, Wavell Hinds, is propos...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Miss Universe Jamaica Westmoreland to be crowned Saturday night
Entertainment, Latest News
Miss Universe Jamaica Westmoreland to be crowned Saturday night
May 20, 2026
SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland—One of 16 stunning beauties will be crowned Miss Universe Jamaica Westmoreland 2026 during the coronation show at the Hot...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaican actress Keturah Hamilton stars in drama series ‘Through Thick & Sin’
Entertainment, Latest News
Jamaican actress Keturah Hamilton stars in drama series ‘Through Thick & Sin’
May 20, 2026
Through Thick & Sin , a drama series starring Jamaican Keturah Hamilton, is scheduled for release this year. Hamilton, who plays Naomi, is also the cr...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Govt’s beach access policy falls short, says Newell
Latest News, News
Govt’s beach access policy falls short, says Newell
May 20, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition Spokesman on the Environment and Climate Resilience, Omar Newell, says the Beach Access and Management Policy recently ta...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
WATCH: Swaby hits back at Morgan over road funding criticism
Latest News, News
WATCH: Swaby hits back at Morgan over road funding criticism
May 20, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby has pushed back against comments made by Minister with responsibility for Works Robert Nesta Morgan, ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Marks pledges to be so efficient she will make her current job redundant
Latest News, News
Marks pledges to be so efficient she will make her current job redundant
May 20, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Minister of Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Ambassador Audrey Marks, has pledged to be so efficient at what she d...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cuba condemns ‘despicable accusation’ against Raúl Castro
Latest News, Regional
Cuba condemns ‘despicable accusation’ against Raúl Castro
May 20, 2026
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC)—Cuba on Wednesday condemned “in the strongest terms” what it described as the despicable accusation by the United States De...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Teenagers included in Reggae Boyz team for Unity Cup
Latest News, Sports
Teenagers included in Reggae Boyz team for Unity Cup
May 20, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—A number of teenagers have been included in Jamaica’s 24-man squad that was named on Wednesday to take part in the Unity Cup footbal...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct