Ranjit Wahi, a 78-year-old Chicago resident, was sentenced on Mar. 19 to 29 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and methadone, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address the illegal distribution of prescription drugs. The sentencing follows an investigation into practices at Midwest Physician Pain Center in Chicago, where Wahi was the owner.
According to his plea agreement, Wahi conspired with others from 2019 through November 18, 2022, to dispense controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. During this period, patients would travel to the clinic and pay cash to Judith Harskey, who worked as a receptionist. These patients received prescriptions for oxycodone and methadone that had been pre-signed by Wahi without seeing him or any other doctor.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Midwest Physician Pain Clinic on November 18, 2022. They recovered 541 blank prescriptions signed in advance by Wahi from Harskey’s office, including some found in her purse. Harskey pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiring to distribute oxycodone and methadone and was sentenced to 36 months in prison.
Under federal law, Wahi must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. After serving his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for one year.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence. The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt.
