A Craig doctor was convicted on several counts of prescribing a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose, resulting in the death of one patient, officials said on Tuesday.
Joel Miller, who owned and operated High Country Medical, was arrested in August 2013, following a 34-count federal indictment, according to a United States Attorney, District of Colorado news release.
The indictment also included charges of health care fraud and money laundering, the release said.
Miller was convicted on six counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose, one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose resulting in death, and one count of providing false information on his Drug Enforcement Administration registration application.
Miller’s conviction marks the first “resulting in death” conviction by jury trial in the District of Colorado, the release said.
The court will set a sentencing date for Miller on Nov. 16.
Miller faces a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
“This doctor distributed narcotics to make money, not to help patients, and he killed a patient in the process,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. ” He testified at trial that he viewed his duty not to harm patients as ‘a PR thing.’ Thanks to enormous, tenacious effort by a group of skilled and dedicated law enforcement partners, his many victims now have some justice.”
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or @ehernandez
