Nebraska Doctor Arrested for Drug Scheme
Nebraska Doctor Arrested for Drug Scheme
Over the course of a two-year period, the doctor prescribed more than 4,200 10mg oxycodone pills to a patient and bought them back.
A Lincoln doctor and his patient were sentenced on Tuesday for an illegal drug scheme.
Dr. Keith Hughes, 56, and Colby Digilio, 34, of Valparaiso, began being investigated in January 2020. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office had received a tip that Hughes was prescribing a large number of oxycodone pills to Digilio.
Between April 2018 and July 2020, Hughes prescribed a total of 4,232 10 mg oxycodone pills over 63 prescriptions, according to the Department of Justice.
Hughes was using Digilio to buy back the pills for personal use. In exchange, Digilio was paid in cash, sports tickets and sports memorabilia.
Hughes was an orthopedic surgeon. His license has since been revoked by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Both men were sentenced for obtaining oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge by obtaining prescriptions of oxycodone for personal use.
United States District Judge John Gerrard sentenced Hughes to five years of probation and ordered him to pay a $20,000 fine.
Digilio was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
Where the Diversion Occurred:
Nebraska Foot & Ankle, P.C.
7030 Helen Witt Drive Suite B Lincoln, NE 68512
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Hospital
Person Diverting:
Dr. Keith P. Hughes
Profession of the person diverting:
Physician or Medical Doctor (MD)
Has the incident been reported?
e.g. to local law enforcement, county board of health, state licensure board, and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
Yes
To whom has the incident been reported?
Local Law Enforcement
