A Rhode Island doctor has been indicted on 19 federal counts that accuse him of receiving kickbacks on prescriptions of a highly addictive painkiller that were written for patients who didn't need the drug.
Jerrold Rosenberg, a clinical assistant professor at Brown University, pleaded not guilty Thursday.
He's the latest person to be caught up in a federal investigation surrounding the Arizona-based drug manufacturer, Insys Therapeutics. The company is accused of rewarding doctors for prescribing large amounts of its fentanyl spray.
Former Insys executives have pleaded not guilty in Massachusetts to racketeering. Insys couldn't immediately be reached for comment on Thursday.
Prosecutors say Rosenberg refused patients' requests to switch drugs and received $180,000 in speaking fees.
They say his son earned commissions as an Insys sales representative.
Rosenberg's attorney declined to comment.
