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Central Ohio doctors among 12 medical professionals charged with opioid distribution offenses

The Department of Justice and the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force announced criminal charges against 14 defendants, including doctors from Columbus and Upper Arlington. Twelve of the defendants were medical professionals at the time of the alleged offenses, which include unlawful distribution of opioids.

“Today’s Opioid Enforcement Action highlights the Justice Department’s latest efforts in responding to the nation’s opioid epidemic, which last year alone caused the tragic loss of life for more than 75,000 people in the United States due to overdose,” Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said. “The Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly with its partners to combat this epidemic, and to seek to prevent the next tragic loss of life.”

The new cases include two central Ohio doctors:

Eskender Getachew, M.D., 57, of Columbus, Ohio, was charged by indictment with unlawful distribution of controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) and 18 U.S.C. § 2, for allegedly prescribing buprenorphine, dextroamphetamine-amphetamine, and clonazepam, outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, while he owned Polaris Wellness and Recovery Center in Columbus. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Andrew Barras and Christopher Jason of the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (“ARPO”) Strike Force.

Charles Kistler, M.D., 77, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, was charged by indictment with unlawful distribution of controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) and 18 U.S.C. § 2, for his alleged unlawful prescribing while practicing at Midtowne Family Practice Clinic in Columbus, Ohio. According to the indictment, Kistler, a family practice physician, unlawfully prescribed hydrocodone and other controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Christopher Jason and Kathryn Furtado of the ARPO Strike Force.

“When we helped announce ARPO strike forces in 2019 we said it would be an enduring commitment to stamp out illegal opioid trafficking by prescription pad and we meant it,” U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio said. “As is evident by the results announced today, we will continue to bring coordinated enforcement actions to address the opioid scourge plaguing the region.”

Over the past three years, ARPO has charged 111 defendants with crimes related to the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids. Together, these defendants issued prescriptions for over 115 million controlled substance pills. There have been 60 convictions. The task force relies on tips from the public as well.

“The FBI and our partners are working together to combat the opioid crisis and hold accountable those abusing their prescription privileges,” said Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers of the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office. “We urge the public to assist us in keeping the community safe by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI with tips about those illegally prescribing opioids.”

Officials also urged people to seek help when they need it. For Ohio, please call the OhioMHAS patient helpline, at 1-877-275-6364.

Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.