A family physician from San Jose is facing federal prison time after being found guilty of illegally prescribing massive quantities of opioids, including to a person who later died of an overdose, federal prosecutors said Friday.
Dr. Donald Siao was convicted on 12 counts of distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone outside of his professional practice and without a legitimate purpose, Northern California U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey's office announced. The verdicts followed a one-week trial.
Authorities then launched another investigation, which involved four undercover agents posing as patients. Prosecutors said Siao prescribed oxycodone and hydrocodone in increasing quantities over 17 visits. The doctor was found to have prescribed the pills to the mother despite being alerted that she was jailed for selling pills. Siao also prescribed pills to the son after he overdosed twice, after being flagged by a medical provider for drug-seeking behavior, and after his mom died from an overdose.
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