LAS VEGAS -- The I-Team has uncovered that a prominent hospital doctor was arrested for illegally selling thousands of powerful painkiller drugs.
The doctor, who at one time was the Chief of Internal Medicine at Centennial Hills Hospital, was snagged in an undercover drug sting. Federal drug enforcement agents say Dr. Vinay Bararia sold nearly $50,000 worth of oxycodone painkillers.
Read the Complaint against Dr. Vinay Bararia
It appears he got the pills from suppliers in California; a state that's gutted their prescription drug enforcement because of budget cuts.
It was at the Centennial Hills Hospital parking lot that the drug sting first took place. An undercover DEA agent reports Dr. Bararia sold 500 hydrocodone pills for more than $2 a pill beginning last July.
According to the agent, Bararia began offering more expensive oxycodone painkillers. The federal report adds Bararia told the agent his drug source had to drive to seven different places in California to get the oxycodone pills.
Each time the drug bottles would be handed over in bags, in exchange for thousands in cash. According to court documents, more than $46,000 was spent for nearly 6,000 pills.
Dr. Bararia moved his drug deals to the parking lot of neighboring Kopper Keg pub, according to the arrest report. He was arrested March 1. Federal agents say they found more painkillers in the doctor's car.
Centennial Hills Hospital has not responded to the I-Team's calls. It is unclear from the report whether any of the painkiller drugs were taken from the hospital, or what Bararia's employment status is currently. Dr. Bararia is out of jail on bail and would not comment on the case. His attorney would also not comment. The doctor's website states he opened his Nevada Medical Associates practice in 2005.
