LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles-based doctor surrendered Thursday to federal authorities after being indicted on charges that he had illegally distributed drugs, including painkillers that are considered to be powerful and addictive.
Dr. Andrew Sun, 78, of La Mirada is facing two-dozen federal counts of illegally prescribing controlled substances. The substances include hydrocodone, Xanax, Valium, and promethazine with codeine, which are active ingredients in a street drug called “sizzurp” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Sun, who had operated clinics in both San Gabriel and East Los Angeles, is also charged with four counts of laundering the proceeds generated by his illegal prescriptions.
Nearly 5,000 prescriptions for controlled substances were issued by Sun over a one-year period, concluding in July 2010, according to an affidavit in support of a search warrant that was executed at Sun’s residence and medical offices on July 11, 2013.
Sun allegedly prescribed drugs, including hydrocodone, to undercover agents on 13 separate occasions in exchange for $150 cash each time, during the investigation.
The affidavit also quotes Sun as telling one undercover agent, “So, if you want to insist on getting such a strong medicine, I’ll give it to you. I’m just a doctor, I’m not God, okay? So I cannot say no to something that you want to do.”
The investigation also allegedly discovered that Sun, along with his wife, controlled 44 bank accounts, and that Sun deposited over $1.1 million in cash into his accounts between 2008 and July 2012, according to prosecutors.
If convicted of all drug and money laundering counts, 28 in total, Sun could face decades in federal prison.
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