Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Philip Yen, M.D., a radiologist at Sutter Medical Group, has agreed to pay $125,000 to the United States. This payment resolves allegations of non-compliance with federal statutory requirements during his tenure as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registrant at Sutter Imaging Capitol Pavilion in Sacramento. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the settlement.
Dr. Yen served as the DEA registrant from 2018 to 2024 at Capitol Pavilion, located next to Sutter Medical Center on Capitol Avenue. His role required him to maintain detailed records of controlled substances received and dispensed at the facility, ensuring that these substances were properly documented to prevent diversion.
In 2022, an inspection revealed multiple recordkeeping violations concerning controlled substances at Capitol Pavilion. It was found that Dr. Yen lacked adequate training for his responsibilities as a DEA registrant and that there was awareness among Sutter staff about potential risks of substance diversion.
Alongside paying civil penalties, Dr. Yen has committed to completing comprehensive training on Controlled Substances Act (CSA) obligations, including effective controls against theft and diversion.
"Healthcare facilities and their employees are entrusted to handle dangerous drugs with care," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Beckwith. "Compliance with the CSA and its recordkeeping requirements is critical to preventing diversion and protecting the public."
Bob P. Beris, DEA Special Agent in Charge, emphasized: "Controlled substance recordkeeping requirements are an essential line of defense against prescription drug diversion. Every dose must be accounted for to prevent misuse and save lives."
The investigation was carried out by the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Emilia P.E Morris handling the case for the United States.
The settlement addresses allegations only; no liability determination has been made.
