Two Pa. Physicians Were Acquitted Of Drug Charges

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Two Pennsylvania doctors were found not guilty of drug charges after a trial that stretched on for more than a week.

Dr. Krishan Kumar Aggarwal, of Moon Township, and Dr. Cherian John, of Coraopolis, were accused of breaching a contract with Redirections Treatment Advocates, LLC, in Weirton, West Virginia.

The two were allegedly writing illegitimate prescriptions for suboxone, some paid for with Medicare and Medicaid funds.

United States Attorney Bill Powell and others weren't too excited about the verdict.

"Though we disagree with the jury in this case, the jury has spoken and that is part of the process, which we have the utmost respect for...this verdict will not deter our efforts on the opioid front," said Powell in a press release.

In a press release sent by Stephen Stallings, Dr. John's attorney, Stallings said that Dr. John was caring for his patients who were suffering from opioid addiction.

"For the past year, Dr. John has been fighting these false charges from the government stemming from his treatment of patients who suffered from opioid addiction," he said.

Jurors deliberated for almost eight hours before finding Aggarwal and John not guilty.

"We remain steadfast in our intention to prosecute matters which we believe, based upon the evidence, support prosecution," said Powell in the same press release.

"Dr. John was always one of the good guys in the war on opioids, as we proved in this trial," Stallings said in a press release. "In fact, Dr. John is one of the good guys, period."