Perryopolis doctor charged with swapping pills for sex

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Perryopolis doctor charged with swapping pills for sex

Patrick Varine | Monday, September 23, 2019 4:56 p.m.

This Feb. 19, 2013 file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. A Fayette County family doctor was charged Monday with swapping oxycodone and another opioid in exchange for sexual favors from a patient. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)

A Perryopolis family doctor is charged with 28 counts of swapping opioid medication for sexual favors, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady.

Emilio Ramon Navarro, 58, of Coal Center was indicted on 29 charges, according to a Justice Department news release.

Between April 2018 and April 2019, Navarro unlawfully dispensed oxycodone and oxymorphone to a person identified only as “A.W.” in exchange for sexual favors, according to court papers.

Navarro also is charged with health care fraud for allegedly billing Medicaid to cover the cost of the drugs.

Navarro was arrested Monday morning and faces a hearing on Tuesday.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of unlawfully prescribing opioids, and up to 10 years for the health care fraud count.

The case was brought by the Western Pennsylvania Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, consisting of federal prosecutors, and federal and state law enforcement.

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