West Virginia Doctor Pleads Guilty in Drug, Health Care Fraud Case

Update Thursday Jan. 7 at 11:47 a.m.:

A Beckley pain clinic doctor has pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing a controlled substance and submitting false health care claims.

Jose Gordinho entered the plea Thursday in federal court in Beckley.

Gordinho faces up to 10 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine, along with restitution to Medicare and Medicaid.

Sentencing has been set for April 26.

Under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Gordinho will no longer be allowed to prescribe controlled substances.

Gordinho was indicted in November on 21 counts of distributing controlled substances that were not for legitimate medical purposes. His guilty plea involved prescribing hydrocodone.

He also admitted to submitting false claims for services that were not medically necessary.

Original:

A Beckley pain clinic doctor who is due in federal court on drug distribution charges is now also facing health care fraud charges. 

Jose Gordinho was charged Wednesday with attempting to defraud Medicare and Medicaid.

The new counts were filed ahead of Gordinho’s scheduled plea hearing Thursday on the original charges. Gordinho was indicted in November on 21 counts of distributing oxycodone, morphine and other controlled substances that were not for legitimate medical purposes. A trial was originally set for next Monday.

Mike Hissam, an attorney for Gordinho, declined to comment on the new charges when contacted by The Charleston Gazette-Mail.