Two Southland doctors, including one from Santa Monica, who were already awaiting trial for alleged prescription-drug fraud were behind bars today, with prosecutors accusing the pair of violating the terms of their bail by continuing to write prescriptions.
Dr. Daniel Shin, 49, of Santa Monica, was arrested in court Thursday. Prosecutors contend that while he was free on $230,000 bail, Shin used other doctors’ identities to sell hundreds of illegal prescriptions, leading to thousands of OxyContin pills being sold on the streets.
Dr. John Dimowo, 56, of Walnut, was arrested in court today, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said he violated the terms of his release on $60,000 bail by writing dozens of prescriptions to patients despite a court order barring him from doing so.
Following his arrest, Dimowo was jailed in lieu of $120,000 bail and was scheduled to return to court April 24. Shin is being held on $500,000 bail and is due in court April 27.
Dimowo was awaiting trial on eight felony counts of unlawful prescription of a controlled substance. Prosecutors allege that he unlawfully issued prescriptions for Adderall, hydrocodone and alprazolam to undercover agents who went to his Wilmington clinic between March 2012 and March 2013.
Shin is charged with 20 counts, including obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, issuing a false or fictitious prescription, conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, possession of a controlled substance and being under the influence of cocaine. Prosecutors allege he worked with two other defendants to orchestrate a prescription fraud scheme.
