An Orange County psychiatrist who has been suspected of authorizing prescriptions for narcotics to people who were allegedly not in need of them for health reasons has declared that he is innocent of the charges.
Westminster resident Dr. Robert Tinoco Perez is a 57-year-old psychiatrist with a practice that operates out of an office in Santa Ana.
After an investigation by the DEA and the Costa Mesa Police Department, Perez has been accused of using his the office that works out of as a way to profit off of selling prescriptions for opioids, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines.
He was also reportedly discovered working with more than one other person that was said to have served as brokers who distributed the medication to those looking to purchase them and then giving Perez half of the funds collected in the transactions.
Perez and the brokers were also purportedly manufacturing fake patient records so that there would be no reason for pharmacies to become suspicious of the validity of the prescriptions. This additionally allegedly provided a way for Perez to sell the pills to people that he was not treating medically, one of which turned out to be an undercover officer.
On Friday DEA agents took Perez into custody and charged him with multiple counts of illegal distribution of oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose, one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
During his arraignment hearing on July 29, Perez entered a plea of not guilty to all of the charges, which hold a penalty of 100 years or more in a federal prison. He is due back in court on August 21.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a drug crime, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.