A Las Cruces physician whose license has been revoked has pleaded guilty to health care fraud and unlawfully dispensing prescription painkillers.
Federal prosecutors say 63-year-old Pawankumar Jain entered his plea Thursday.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Jain will be sentenced to 42 to 108 months in prison.
Jain has been in federal custody since April 2014 and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
Jain was accused of giving prescription painkillers — primarily Oxycodone and methadone — to patients without a legitimate medical purpose between April 2009 and June 2010 and defrauding Medicare and Medicaid by submitting payment claims for the medications.
Jain's license was suspended in June 2012 and revoked six months later by the New Mexico Medical Board.
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