Skip to main content

Md. gynecologist pleads guilty to drug charge

BALTIMORE (AP) — A Baltimore gynecologist has pleaded guilty to illegally distributing powerful painkillers to patients.

Dr. John Yacoub pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics on Wednesday in federal court in Baltimore.

Yacoub, who had practiced gynecology and obstetrics in Maryland for 30 years, was charged in March, and voluntarily surrendered his medical license following a Maryland Board of Physicians investigation. Court papers say Yacoub had been illegally mailing prescriptions and drugs, including oxycodone, methadone and fentanyl, to his girlfriend in Nevada.

Prosecutors say Yacoub also wrote prescriptions to two additional patients for his girlfriend’s use. Authorities say one of those patients used Medicaid to fill the fraudulent prescriptions.

Yacoub faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Emergency guide: What you should do to prepare for emergencies

WASHINGTON — Do you know what you'd do if an emergency hits? What if you're at work, your spouse is stuck in traffic and your children are in school? There's no way to plan for every emergency, but you can make sure you're prepared for different scenarios, including making a plan for your family and building a kit of emergency supplies.
Read Next Story