Doctor Pleads Guilty

A Wise County doctor pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon to fourteen federal charges including illegally prescribing more than 25,000 oxycodone pills, more than 17,000 hydrocodone pills and more than 10,000 benzodiazepine pills; obtaining drugs by fraud; health care fraud; making false statement to law enforcement; and failing to maintain required records. 61-year-old Dr. Raymond Michael Moore of Wise, Virginia had a medical practice in Norton, Virginia. According to evidence, Moore issued prescriptions for opioids without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of medical practice. Moore originally told law enforcement that controlled substances found during execution of search warrants were returned from patients and were to be destroyed. He later admitted those controlled substances were for his personal use.  Pursuant to his plea agreement, Moore will pay more than $50,000 in restitution to Virginia Medicaid, will forfeit more than $100,000 and agreed to never again be a medical provider.  Sentencing has been scheduled for 2:00 pm March 26, 2020. At sentencing, Moore faces a maximum sentence of imprisonment for a term of 80 years and a maximum fine of $4.25 million.