Lansing podiatrist pleads guilty in ‘intercourse for medication’ scheme, officials say

DETROIT, MI — A Lansing podiatrist has pleaded guilty to giving various women opioid prescriptions in exchange for sexual favors, money and other drugs, officials said.

dr Maninder Deswal, 44, of Lansing, is charged with unlawfully prescribing the “highly addictive opioids” Oxycodone-Acetaminophen (also known as Percocet) and Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen (Norco) to several woman outside the course of professional medical practice, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office Monday.

On Jan 24, Deswal entered a guilty plea to two counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances.

From December 2018 to September 2020, Deswal would issue the prescriptions to women in exchange for cash, sexual favors and other illicit drugs, officials said. The women were not patients, and the drugs were issued for personal consumption and further drug diversion, officials said.

Deswal is scheduled for sentencing on May 24, with US District Court Judge Judith Levy presiding.

Deswal’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Brandy McMillion, the Eastern District of Michigan’s opioid fraud abuse and detection prosecutor, officials said.

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