ABINGDON — A Washington, D.C.-based doctor who allegedly prescribed thousands of painkillers to patients in Southwest Virginia was indicted on multiple felony counts recently by a federal grand jury in Abingdon.
The 36-count indictment against Alen Johannes Salerian, 65, of Bethesda, Md., was unsealed late last week following his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon.
The indictments included one count of conspiring to distribute OxyContin, oxycodone, methadone, Opana ER and fentanyl, all Schedule II controlled substances, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of medical practice and 35 counts of distributing OxyContin, oxycodone, and methadone, all Schedule II controlled substances, without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of medical practice.
If convicted, Salerian faces a possible maximum penalty on each count of up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1 million.
According to the indictment, Salerian operated the Washington Center for Psychiatry in Washington, D.C., from 2001 to 2010.
The practice was renamed the Salerian Center for Neuroscience and Pain in 2010.
The indictment alleges that between 2007 and April 5, 2012, Salerian distributed the pain medications OxyContin, oxycodone, methadone, Opana ER and fentanyl without a legitimate medical purpose.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia said the indictment was brought in Abingdon court because many of Salerian’s patients were residents of Southwest Virginia, including Lee, Scott, Wise and Washington counties, among others.
Patients seeking treatment at the practice were reportedly provided materials informing them monthly consultations, either in person or by phone, were mandatory.
Authorities said some patients were told that every second, third and fourth appointment could be conducted by telephone, or over the Internet.