New Jersey Doctor Charged with Opioid Distribution and Fraud

An abstract depiction of the issues surrounding opioid distribution and healthcare fraud.

News Summary

Dr. Ritesh Kalra, an internist from New Jersey, has been charged with serious offenses involving the illegal distribution of opioids and healthcare fraud. Allegations include trading prescriptions for sexual favors and submitting false claims to Medicaid. The case highlights broader concerns about opioid abuse and the exploitation of vulnerable patients in the healthcare system. Kalra’s clinics are now closed, and he has been placed under home incarceration following his arrest, facing potential significant prison time if convicted.

Secaucus, New Jersey – Dr. Ritesh Kalra, a 51-year-old internist with practices in Secaucus and Fair Lawn, has been charged as part of a federal crackdown on medical malpractice and opioid abuse. The federal charges against Kalra include distributing controlled substances in exchange for sexual favors and defrauding New Jersey’s Medicaid program through fraudulent medical billing.

Kalra is alleged to have operated an illicit distribution scheme for opioids, including powerful medications such as oxycodone and promethazine with codeine, often without legitimate medical justification. According to court documents, he wrote over 31,000 prescriptions for these substances between January 2019 and February 2025. He has been identified as the top prescriber of these opioids in New Jersey during this period.

Prosecutors accuse Kalra of exploiting vulnerable patients, with claims that he solicited sexual favors in exchange for prescriptions. Several female patients have reported that obtaining prescriptions was contingent upon complying with his sexual demands, sometimes under questionable circumstances, such as while they were impaired. In one disturbing instance, a woman described that Kalra provided her with a prescription after she acquiesced to his sexual requests in a locked examination room.

In addition to the allegations of sexual exploitation, Kalra is also accused of committing healthcare fraud. He reportedly submitted false claims to New Jersey’s Medicaid program for medical appointments that never occurred. Investigators found that he often used copied and pasted patient notes, fabricating vital signs to substantiate his claims. Some of the claims submitted were fraudulent to the extent that they involved patients who were incarcerated at the time they supposedly received care.

Kalra was arrested on July 18 and brought before a federal court in Newark, facing five charges: three counts of illegal distribution of controlled substances and two counts of healthcare fraud. Following his arrest, he was released under home incarceration with an unsecured bond set at $100,000. As a condition of his release, he is prohibited from practicing medicine or prescribing any medications.

This case falls within a broader initiative by federal authorities targeting healthcare fraud. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger stated that Kalra’s actions represent a grave misuse of his medical license, taking advantage of patients struggling with addiction rather than providing them with the necessary care and support.

If convicted, Dr. Kalra faces significant penalties, including a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count of drug distribution. Furthermore, he may face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of fraud.

Kalra’s medical license has been suspended, and his clinics are now closed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Department of Health and Human Services are working alongside state authorities to continue the investigation into his activities.

Authorities are urging anyone who may have additional information or who could be victims of Dr. Kalra’s practices to reach out to federal law enforcement agencies as this significant case continues to unfold.

Dr. Kalra’s arrest highlights the serious issues surrounding opioid abuse and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in the healthcare system. Efforts to combat these crimes and protect patients remain a priority for law enforcement agencies across the country.