Neurologist Accused Of Prescribing Drugs To Homeless
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say a Los Angeles doctor has been arrested for prescribing pain medicine to homeless people recruited to turn the drugs over to dealers.
Neurologist Zhiwei Lin was handcuffed Thursday at his office and faces five felony counts of illegally prescribing drugs.
Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Steve Opferman claims Lin prescribed the painkiller Vicodin to homeless patients who were rounded up by recruiters known as cappers. Opferman says the cappers paid the homeless for the drugs, then turned the drugs over to dealers who would sell them by the pill for a big profit.
If convicted, Lin faces a year in jail and a $20,000 fine on each count.
Lin said he couldn't comment as he was led away by a sheriff's deputy. Calls to his office Friday did not go through.
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