OH: New Albany pill mill doctor given probation, forfeits $524K

A former New Albany doctor who had been accused of staging a break-in at his Columbus practice for a fraudulent insurance claim and running a pill mill admitted to his conduct Thursday and was ordered to forfeit more than a half-million dollars.

Khaled Amr, 58, of New Albany, was sentenced Thursday to spend five years on probation by Judge Colleen O’Donnell. If Amr violates the terms of his probation, he could have to serve a 12½-year prison sentence.

According to court records, Amr was operating a pill mill out of his practice, Columbus Pain Specialists, located at 4466 Morse Rd. on the Northeast Side, for more than seven years. Amr was selling Oxycodone in exchange for financial kickbacks and staged a break-in at his practice to make a fraudulent insurance claim, resulting in more than $1 million being paid to him.

Amr had come to the attention of investigators with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration because of suspected overprescribing of opiates. The fraudulent break-in was discovered after evidence was found during a search of Amr’s home. The former doctor also filed a false claim with the Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation.

Amr was arrested in 2019 at his home, where he was found hiding in a closet.

As part of a plea agreement, Amr entered guilty pleas to counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated trafficking in drugs, aggravated theft and insurance fraud. More than 20 additional felony counts that Amr was initially indicted on were dismissed.

Amr will be ordered to surrender his medical license and DEA license as part of the terms of his probation. He also was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and forfeit more than $524,000 that were proceeds of his criminal behavior.

Court records show Amr had possession of a firearm, however, there is no indication it was ever used in any of his criminal conduct. That firearm was ordered confiscated and destroyed by the court during his sentencing.

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