West Hollywood doctor surrenders after drug-trafficking charges
A West Hollywood doctor surrendered to federal authorities Monday after being indicted on charges that he illegally prescribed powerful painkillers to patients, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.
James William Eisenberg, 72, is accused of writing more than 1,200 prescriptions for addictive painkillers after the Drug Enforcement Administration revoked his authority to prescribe controlled substances, authorities have alleged.
Eisenberg was indicted Friday.
He is charged with four counts of using a revoked DEA registration number and three counts of distribution of hydrocodone.
In December 2011, a DEA administrative judge said Eisenberg acted as a “drug dealer” and suspended his registration number. The DEA permanently revoked his authority to prescribe controlled substances in July 2012, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
He allegedly continued to write prescriptions for controlled substances out of multiple medical offices in West Hollywood, including a Santa Monica Boulevard office called Pacific Support Services, authorities alleged in court papers.
When one West Hollywood pharmacist refused to fill a prescription from Eisenberg for hydrocodone and alprazoam in June 2012, Eisenberg allegedly asked the pharmacist to make an “exception” and to fill the prescription, according to the affidavit.
Eisenberg is expected to be arraigned Monday afternoon.
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