A California radiologist found himself in hot water when he was arrested on August 11th for his involvement in a scheme to illegally obtain hydrocodone, a powerful opioid painkiller. It has been alleged that Dr. Arash Padidar, a well-respected San Jose-based surgical practitioner, ran the illegal operation for two years.
He is now facing multiple felony charges that include obtaining opioids by fraud, issuing prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose, forging and issuing a prescription, unlawful use of personal information, and conspiracy to commit a crime reported the Mercury News. Padidar allegedly stole another doctor's prescription information to facilitate this illicit trade and further deceive the authorities.
The details of his shady enterprise came to light when a former employee who had been part of the scheme approached the authorities a month or two after being fired by Padidar in 2019 as per KRON 4. Many people are now questioning how the so-called "trusted member of the medical community" could betray the public's trust by exploiting his position and authority.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta spoke out firmly against this abuse, saying, "When a bad actor exploits their position for personal gain, they not only shatter our trust, they harm vulnerable patients." Padidar's arrest was made possible through the combined efforts of the California Department of Justice (DOJ), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and whistleblowers that tipped off the authorities on Padidar's suspicious activities according to the California Attorney General's Office.
The California DOJ Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse charged Dr. Arash Padidar with seven-drug related felonies, each carrying a maximum prison term of three years. Investigators found that Padidar stealthily prescribed over 2,350 Norco pills - a brand name for hydrocodone medication - to several patients, including his wife and father, with the understanding that he would receive some or all of the drugs.
The authorities have commended the efforts of the whistleblower, whose actions played a vital role in bringing Padidar's misdeeds to light. The investigation further revealed that Padidar and his co-conspirators employed coded language to discuss prescription pickups at several pharmacies in San Jose, Campbell, and Los Gatos.
