Delco Doc Illegally Prescribed More Than 29,000 Opioids: Feds

GARNET VALLEY, PA — A Delaware County doctor is one of 48 people who have been charged in a major health care fraud enforcement effort by federal authorities, official said.

United States Attorney William M. McSwain and other Justice Department officials today said Timothy F. Shawl, M.D., 60, of Garnet Valley and numerous others have been charged following investigations by federal authorities.

Shawl specifically has been charged by indictment with five counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, authorities said.

He allegedly wrote prescriptions for controlled substances that were outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.

As alleged in the indictment, Shawl wrote prescriptions for controlled substances for patients without seeing, treating, or examining them.

Shawl allegedly prescribed hundreds of oxycodone prescriptions to about 16 patients, amounting to over 29,000 oxycodone tablets.

Federal authorities announced Thursday the coordinated health care fraud enforcement action across seven federal districts involving more than $800 million in loss and the distribution of over 3.25 million opioid pills in “pill mill” clinics.

Authorities said numerous others from Philadelphia and Bucks County have been charged in connection with illegal pill distribution.

The takedown includes new charges against 48 defendants for their roles in submitting over $160 million in fraudulent claims.

Of those 48 defendants, 15 are doctors or medical professionals, and at least 24 defendants were charged for their roles in diverting opioids.

In the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 17 defendants — five of whom are doctors or medical professionals — were arrested, and the conduct involved submission of more than $4 million in fraudulent claims and distribution of approximately 738,000 oxycodone pills to the streets of this District.