Great Lakes Wire

Federal authorities have unsealed an indictment charging two doctors, a clinic owner, and a patient recruiter with conspiring to illegally distribute prescription opioids in Michigan. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., alongside officials from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).

The individuals named in the indictment are Dr. Shakeeb Chinoy of Bloomfield Hills, Dr. Sunil Manjila-Varghese of Ann Arbor, Rommel Harvey of Detroit, and Gregory Sparks of Detroit.

According to the indictment, from November 2023 through June 2025, Dr. Chinoy allegedly worked with Dr. Manjila-Varghese, Harvey, Sparks, and others to issue thousands of opioid prescriptions to people who did not have legitimate medical needs for these drugs. The drugs distributed included Oxycodone, Percocet (Oxycodone-Acetaminophen), Norco (Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen), Oxymorphone, and Promethazine with Codeine—substances known for their high potential for addiction and abuse.

The indictment states that more than 400,000 dosage units of Schedule II opioids were prescribed as part of this conspiracy. The street value of these drugs is estimated at over $7 million. Additionally, Medicare and Medicaid were fraudulently billed for more than $1 million in unnecessary prescription medications during this period.

“Doctors take an oath to do no harm and to care for others. These doctors and professionals broke that oath to fill their pockets and used their respected positions of trust to push addictive opiods. They are drug dealers in white coats,” said Gorgon.

"Today's indictment of four individuals for their alleged roles in conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription drugs reflects the FBI's unyielding efforts to investigate and disrupt those who violate federal law," said Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "Exploiting the well-being of our community and the healthcare system for personal gain will not be tolerated. The alleged actions betray public trust and divert critical resources. I also want to thank the members from our FBI Detroit Field Office and federal partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General for their continued work to uncover and dismantle these illegal schemes."

“Physicians who exploit their position of trust by overprescribing dangerous opioids for profit place lives at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of HHS-OIG Chicago Regional Office.  “Working together with our law enforcement partners, our agency will not hesitate to investigate and bring to justice those who choose greed over legitimate patient care.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Lievense and Darrin Crawford. The Eastern District of Michigan participates in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit—a Department of Justice initiative focused on using data analysis to target individuals contributing to the opioid crisis nationwide.

Special agents from both the FBI’s Detroit Division and HHS-OIG led the investigation into this matter.

Authorities emphasize that an indictment is only a charge; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.