PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A Paintsville doctor has been indicted in federal court on a variety of charges related to his practice.

Dr. Loey Kousa, of the East Kentucky Clinic, is charged with five counts of unlawful drug distribution, two counts of health care fraud and two counts of lying in connection with health care benefits.

The indictment accuses Dr. Kousa of writing prescriptions for opiods such as hydrocodone or tramadol to patients who had no legitimate need for them. He would then require the patients to return for office visits one or more times a month, during which he allegedly ordered them to undergo medically unnecessary procedures, such as EKGs. He is also accused of falsifying medical records to justify that all of the medical services were necessary.

The drug charges involving hydrocodone are the most serious, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Prosecutors are also seeking to have Dr. Kousa forfeit his medical license and DEA registration, as well as money in an amount equal to his gross proceeds from the alleged crimes.