Twelve individuals from western Pennsylvania and a doctor from Indiana are facing federal charges for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
Two separate indictments were unsealed in Pittsburgh, charging the individuals with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute the Schedule II controlled substance. The indictments allege that the conspiracies spanned several years, from 2019 to 2024.
One of the indictments also charges Dr. Martin J. Maassen, a resident of Lafayette, Indiana, with 21 counts of unlawful distribution of Adderall, an amphetamine.
“The illegal distribution of addictive and deadly drugs continues to tear apart communities throughout western Pennsylvania and the rest of the country,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “What makes the conduct alleged here even more troubling is the involvement of a physician—a resident of another state, no less. Dismantling drug trafficking organizations is at the center of what our office does, and these charges should send a clear and loud message: whether you sell drugs out on the street or while wearing a white coat in a doctor’s office, law enforcement at all levels of government will work as long and as hard as it takes to hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the conspiracy charge. Dr. Maassen faces an additional 20 years for each count of controlled substance distribution.
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This case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis and hold accountable those who contribute to the illegal distribution of these dangerous drugs. The DEA emphasizes the responsibility of medical professionals to prescribe controlled substances only for legitimate medical purposes.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, with assistance from various local and federal law enforcement agencies. This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, which targets high-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations.
“The allegations in these indictments are serious and deeply concerning,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “Dr. Maassen stands accused of unlawfully distributing powerful painkillers such as oxycodone and amphetamines such as Adderall. Doctors such as Maassen have a legal and moral obligation to prescribe these drugs for legitimate medical purposes and within the usual course of professional practice; Maassen allegedly did neither. The unlawful distribution of oxycodone has contributed to the opioid crisis that has so adversely affected our communities.”
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