Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that Alina Pollan (56, Pinellas County) has pleaded guilty to one count of distributing oxycodone for no legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice, and to one count of tax evasion. Pollan faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the illegal drug distribution and 5 years’ imprisonment for the tax evasion count.
According to the plea agreement, Pollan, a Florida-licensed physician and DEA registrant, worked at Pain and Wellness Clinic (“PWC") for approximately three years. Pollan prescribed large quantities of controlled substances to nearly all of the PWC patients. On February 7, 2018, Pollan interacted with an undercover DEA agent who had been posing as a patient during multiple visits to Pollan at PWC. Despite many red flags raised by the undercover agent during her medical appointments with Pollan-a reported history of drug abuse, failed drug urinalysis screenings, vague medical history, and the acknowledged ability to perform athletic activities-Pollan prescribed oxycodone to the agent for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice.
In addition, Pollan filed, or caused to filed, false and fraudulent tax returns with the IRS that understated the true and complete amount of her reportable income from PWC for the tax years 2017 and 2018.
Tom Wynne, the former owner and operator of PWC, previously pleaded guilty to related criminal charges.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration-Tampa District Office, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit was created by the Department of Justice to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit focuses specifically on opioid-related health care fraud, using data to identify and prosecute individuals contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo and Kelley Howard-Allen.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
