Anissa Maroof, a physician from Potomac, Maryland, has pled guilty to federal charges related to the unlawful distribution of controlled substances. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, in conjunction with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office.
Maroof admitted that between January 2019 and June 2022, she distributed Alprazolam, Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine, and Buprenorphine outside the bounds of professional practice and without legitimate medical purposes. Despite being board certified in addiction psychiatry and owning a medical practice in Bethesda, Maryland, Maroof misused her DEA registration number to prescribe these substances.
Her patients included individuals from West Virginia who received prescriptions for combinations of controlled substances without adequate warnings about potential risks. Furthermore, Maroof continued prescribing even after patients disclosed selling their excess medication illegally.
The investigation revealed that Maroof often prescribed drugs without offering therapeutic services or seeing patients first. She would call prescriptions into pharmacies and instruct patients to leave cash payments at her office door in exchange for them. Additionally, she advised on how to split prescription fillings across different pharmacies.
Maroof is facing up to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Her sentencing is set for August 19, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chaung.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the FBI's investigative efforts and acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Sarma and Elizabeth Wright for prosecuting the case alongside support from the Montgomery County Police Department.
Further information about the activities and resources of the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found on their official website.
