The only South Bay resident—who was indicted along with a doctor and six others to conspiracy to distribute a powerful pain killer via phony patients—has been released on $20,000 bond.
David D. Apple, 25, and the others who were indicted by a federal grand jury in March, have pleaded not guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in San Diego.
A physician, Egisto Salerno, 73, who has a medical office on El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego, is accused of writing the prescriptions under the names of deceased and incarcerated people as part of a “pill mill” operation, according to U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman.
The goal was to get prescriptions for hydrocodone, which is also known as Vicodin, Norco, and Lortab. The patients whose names were listed on the prescriptions never saw Salerno, whose office allegedly kept patients files with diagnosis and treatment options.
Apple is accused of falsifying patient chart notes. Apple, the physician, and the others are all charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hydrocodone. Apple is also charged with four counts of unlawful distribution and dispersing hydrocodone.
“The opioid crisis is ravaging families in San Diego and Imperial Counties and is part of a national epidemic,” said Braverman in a statement.
“We are and will continue to zealously prosecute and bring to justice these doctors, pharmacies, medical providers and others who are furthering this epidemic to line their own pockets,” said Braverman.
One patient listed as getting five prescriptions for hydrocodone actually died in Oct., 2015, but still received the prescriptions a year later under that name, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The others indicted include Stephen Toney, 57, April Cervantes, 27, Lonnell Ligon, 55, Shalina Latson, 47, LaJuan Smith, 38, all of San Diego, and Amber Horne, 28, of El Cajon.
Salerno has posted $100,000 bond. Apple, Salerno, and the others have denied the charges.
