LONDON, Ky. - A Chicago man, Ranjit Wahi, 78, was sentenced on Tuesday, to 29 months, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and methadone.

According to his plea agreement, beginning in 2019 and continuing through November 18, 2022, Wahi conspired with others to dispense controlled substances, including oxycodone and methadone, outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. As part of the conspiracy, Wahi employed Judith Harskey as a receptionist at Midwest Physician Pain Center, Wahi's pain clinic in Chicago. During the conspiracy time period, patients regularly traveled to this clinic, and without seeing Wahi or any other doctor, paid Harskey cash in exchange for prescriptions that were previously signed by Wahi for oxycodone, methadone, and other controlled substances.

On November 18, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Midwest Physician Pain Clinic and recovered 541 blank prescriptions from Harskey's office, including 30 from her purse, that Wahi had signed in advance.

Harskey pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute oxycodone and methadone in 2024 and was sentenced to 36 months in prison.

Under federal law, Wahi must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for one year.

Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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