Dr. Eric Peper was arrested this morning at home in Florida, a day after his indictment on charges of health care fraud and dispensing painkillers that resulted in the deaths of four patients.
Peper, a former Western Slope physician, was arrested without incident and appeared in federal court this morning in Key West, Fla.
His co-defendant, Dr. Sam Jahani is already in custody in Texas where he last resided.
An indictment against both doctors alleges they defrauded Medicaid, Medicare and Rocky Mountain Health Plans by prescribing painkillers to patients outside the scope of professional practice then billing those services to the health care benefit plans.
Some services were never rendered, the indictment says.
Four patients died after being prescribed high doses of painkillers such as Oxycontin.
Jahani operated three medical clinics called Urgent Care Inc. in Delta, Montrose and Grand Junction. Peper was an employee of the Delta and Grand Junction clinics.
The two doctors are expected to be transferred to Colorado where the case will be heard.
If convicted of dispensing controlled substances resulting in death, they could get life in prison.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
