Doctor facing drug charges

Staff

A Richlands physician awaiting trial on a rape charge was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Abingdon on 33 drug-related charges.
Dr. Roy C. Gomez of Richlands was charged with 33 counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraud and deception and one count of attempting to obtain controlled substances by fraud.
The 65-year-old Gomez had been released on a $1 million bond on the rape charge. In addition he had to surrender his passport, have no contact with the alleged victim or witnesses, go on home electronic monitoring and only travel to and from work and to meet with attorneys.
Each of the 33 drug-related charges carries a maximum four-year sentence and a $250,000 fine.
“Medical professionals who use their knowledge of the medical system and their positions of power for personal gain must be prosecuted for their actions,” Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley said in a press release. “This office will not turn a blind eye to doctors who violate the very system they took an oath to protect.”
According to the indictment, Gomez, a licensed physician, acquired and obtained possession of Androgel (testosterone gel) and Testred (methyltestosterone) by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery and deception.
One of the counts alleges that Gomez authorized a prescription for Androgel in the name of another individual with the intent that Gomez himself would possess the Androgel.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Virginia State Police, the Richlands
Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer is prosecuting the case for the United States.
A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt.
Gomez has been in private practice in Cedar Bluff since 1985 and in Richlands since 1979.
For more on the story, pick up a copy of the Richlands News-Press.