Former W.Va. doctor pleads guilty in pill scheme
CHARLESTON (AP) — A former Kanawha County physician has admitted his role in a prescription drug fraud scheme.
U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said Friday that 55-year-old Dr. William J. Casto has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge.
Casto admitted he illegally wrote prescriptions for painkillers and an anti-anxiety drug from January 2006 through December 2009. The amount of pills totaled more than 10,800. At the time, Casto had a medical practice in St. Albans.
Goodwin says many of the prescriptions were written to someone Casto previously was involved with in a sexual relationship. He also wrote prescriptions for others, even though they weren’t his patients and he didn’t examine them.
Casto faces up to four years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Sept. 24 in federal court in Charleston.
