Federal prosecutors say people would travel from Tennessee to see “Dr. Z.”
That was the nickname of Silviu Ziscovici, 59, who was arrested Wednesday after being indicted on charges related to illegally distributing pain medication from his North Bethesda medical practice.
Federal prosecutors said Ziscovici would prescribe highly addictive painkillers such as oxycodone to patients without proper medical examinations for a fee. The indictment alleges that the doctor worked with a co-conspirator in Tennessee to transport people to Ziscovici ’s office to obtain prescriptions. The doctor instructed the co-conspirator not to bring anyone under the age of 25 or anyone with visible “track marks”, marks on the arm indicative of needle use, to his office, the indictment alleges.
Prosecutors say Ziscovici distributed methadone, morphine, alprazolam and other drugs in addition to oxycodone from his Rockville practice. In one case, a patient’s death was linked to methadone obtained from Ziscovici, according to the indictment.
The 29-count indictment issued in June alleges Ziscovici distributed the pain medication from his practice from at least July 2009 through June 2010. Prosecutors are also pursuing the forfeiture of $651,500 from Ziscovici, which they say he obtained through drug distribution.
Ziscovici previously had his medical license suspended by the Maryland Board of Physicians in Dec. 2010. The board’s spring 2011 newsletter notes, “the physician posed a substantial likelihood of risk of serious harm to the public health, safety, and welfare based on… the physician’s gross lack of professional competence and a clear disregard for the standards of care in practicing pain medicine.”
That suspension followed a Drug Enforcement Agency probe in 2010 in which investigators determined the doctor was charging $300 to $500 per patient visit to obtain prescriptions for oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall and other drugs, according to the Gazette. Montgomery County Police were also investigating Ziscovici at that time, and undercover officers reported receiving prescriptions from the doctor without receiving a medical evaluation, according to the report.
Ziscovici’s medical license was never reinstated, according to the Maryland Board of Physicians website. His practice was located at 11400 Rockville Pike.
Ziscovici faces more than 20 years of prison if convicted on the charge of distributing drugs that resulted in someone’s death. He’s also facing 26 counts of distribution of a controlled substance and money laundering charges, according to the indictment.
“To those who practice medicine and abuse the privilege of caring for their patients by inappropriately prescribing controlled substances, DEA has a strong message for you: We will investigate you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” said DEA Special Agent Karl C. Colder, of the Washington Field Division in a statement.
Ziscovici is scheduled to appear at U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland for a hearing on Aug. 1.