BENTON, IL - Dr. Sukhdarshan "Shan" Bedi, 56 of Energy, Ill., pled guilty to four counts leveled against him by federal prosecutors.  Bedi's three clinics also pled guilty to various charges.  Local 6 broke the story in September 2008, when FBI and DEA agents raided Bedi's offices in Marion, Galatia and Harrisburg, Ill.

Dr. Bedi pled to the following:
(a) Obstruction of Justice in Counts 1 and 2, which carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both;
(b) tampering with a witness in Count 3, which carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both;
(c) illegal dispensation of controlled substances, Methadone, in Count 6, which carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment,
a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both.

Dr. Bedi’s corporations, Marion Family Health Care, Harrisburg Family Healthcare and Galatia Medical Group, pled to the following:
(a) conspiracy to illegally dispense a controlled substance in Count 7, which carries penalties of up to 5 years’ probation, a fine of up to $5,000,000, or both;
(b) health care fraud in Count 12, which carries penalties of up to 5 years’ probation, a fine of up to $500,000, or both.

U.S. Attorney A. Courtney Cox says Bedi will voluntarily surrender his medical license.  Bedi will also withdraw his application for reinstatement of his DEA Registration.  He also agreed to pay criminal restitution in the amount of $47,784.31 to the Medical program administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Bedi returns to court March 26, 2010, for sentencing.

Upon sentencing, the U.S. Attorney's Office agrees to dismiss remaining counts.  The three corporations agreed to be jointly and severally responsible with Bedi for paying the criminal restitution.  The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Illinois State Police; the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group; and the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Quinley and Liam Coonan.  If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with healthcare laws or public aid programs, you may report this activity to the local office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General or call 1-800-447-8477.