7 Puerto Rican doctors indicted in alleged Internet pharmacy scheme

Seven doctors have been indicted in this U.S. Caribbean territory in connection with an Internet scheme that allegedly dispensed controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose, federal authorities said Monday.

The physicians were accused of working with Internet pharmacies that solicited customers seeking drugs such as the addictive painkiller hydrocodone and appetite suppressant phentermine, according to a statement from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Charges against them include conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, wire fraud and money laundering. The alleged scheme started in 2003.

If convicted, the accused doctors each face up to 20 years in prison and maximum fines of US$6.4 million (euro4.9 million), the DEA said.