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Former doctor pleads guilty to operating pill mills

Pill mills operated in Dayton, Bethel Twp., authorities say.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 11:18 AM Friday, January 6, 2012

SPRINGFIELD — A former medical doctor pleaded guilty Thursday to eight felony charges relating to the operation of pill mills in Bethel Twp. and Dayton.

Dr. Han Yang, 69, was accused of writing prescriptions for Percocet and Vicodin to undercover officers and confidential informants working with the Montgomery and Clark County sheriff’s offices.

In the Clark County Common Pleas Court Thursday afternoon, Yang pleaded guilty to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, a second-degree felony; five counts of drug trafficking, fourth-degree felonies; and one count of fifth-degree drug trafficking for writing the prescriptions.

In addition, Yang pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony charge of theft for fraudulently billing Medicaid for services that were not performed, Haslam said.

For the charges, Yang must forfeit the contents of several bank accounts connected to the case. He could face up to 18 years in prison and up to $47,000 in fines. Yang will be sentenced Jan. 31.

Authorities said they first learned of Yang’s activities after a pharmacist contacted them about a pregnant woman attempting to fill several prescriptions for powerful painkillers.

Investigators raided Yang’s Butler Twp. home and offices on North Main Street in Dayton and Styer Road in Bethel Twp. in October. They reportedly found his Dayton office contained no medical equipment and in most cases prescriptions were written without any type of examination.

“Dr. Yang was using his medical license to traffic drugs. He was not prescribing these drugs for any legitimate medical purpose and when Montgomery County and Clark County teamed up for the investigation they realized that,” said Aaron Haslam, senior attorney with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Yang stood during the court proceedings on Thursday and seemed confused when Judge Richard O’Neill explained his rights. His attorneys often repeated the judge’s words, but he said he understood when he entered his plea of guilty.

He and his attorneys declined to comment. Haslam said “it’s a passion” of Attorney General Mike DeWine’s to shut down these type of operations.

“(We’re) cracking down on physicians and dentists that are using their medical license to traffic drugs. That is exactly what was the case here,” Haslam said.

According to DeWine, four Ohioans overdose on drugs every day, many on prescription drugs.

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