Doctor Exchanged Drugs for Sex and Cash Through Craigslist, Sentenced on Federal Charges

A Chicago-area physician who worked with three hospitals in the city was sentenced to 6 years in prison on federal charges for illegally distributing prescription drugs for sex and sexual favors and money.

Joshua D. Baron, 40, was originally charged with state-level crimes in January 2011, after an undercover investigation by the Wilmette Police Department. However, he faced federal charges after the US Drug Enforcement Agency and the Chicago Police Department looked further into his activities in October 2011.

The pediatric neurologist pleaded guilty to the federal charges in March. He wrote 149 prescriptions for controlled, addictive prescription drugs including Xanax, Adderall, Norco, Vicodin, Percocet, Ritalin, Ativan, Oxycontin, and Klonopin, to 16 individuals in exchange for sex, all between 2006 and 2011. Baron was not the physician or prescribing doctor for any of the alleged individuals, nor did he ever conduct an examination or diagnose them.

“Mr. Baron was purchasing sexual favors for the drugs he knew people were addicted to and would do anything for,” the judge said at the sentencing hearing.

Baron will also be placed on supervised release for 10 years after he serves his 70 month sentence for the federal charges, beginning in September. He has also been ordered to pay $1,000 and will perform 1,000 hours of community service.

Baron received his license in Illinois in 2006, and almost immediately began writing fraudulent prescriptions and soliciting sexual favors through three dummy email addresses over Craigslist sections “Casual Encounters” and “Men Who Would Pay.” Over five years, he posted nearly 80 ads and fraudulently prescribed thousands of pills. In some instances, Baron received cash for the prescription drugs. His license was revoked in 2011.

His victims “would in some cases do almost anything” for a fix, she said. “This was a very serious and disturbing series of criminal activities.”

“I’m deeply regretful for what I’ve done,” he said. “My actions could have led to serious harm and death — I regret my actions also broke apart my family.”

His attorney focused on the changes Baron has made since his arrest three years ago. Baron was actively working to gain control over his mental illness, and was regularly seeing a therapist.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help Defend Federal Charges

The law broadly defines wire fraud as devising or intending to devise a scheme to defraud others of money or property under false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises by means of electronic communications, or “wires.” Because they typically involve interstate matters, most wire fraud cases are considered federal crimes with convictions carrying heavy fines, prison sentences of up to 20 years, or both.

Our federal criminal defense lawyers handle cases involving:

• Fraudulent insurance claims
• Bond issuances and investment schemes
• Falsifying loan applications
• Check fraud schemes
• Bribes or kickbacks
• False advertising or misrepresentation in sales transactions
• making a false statement to a loan officer or bank official
• deceiving a bank
• falsifying loan documents
• check fraud
• forging check signatures
• ATM fraud
• Embezzlement
• And other federal charges.

If you, your loved one, or your corporation has been contacted by a law enforcement officer about federal charges, you should contact the Strom Law Firm, LLC immediately. The Strom Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations so you can discuss the facts of your case with impunity. Contact us today.803.252.4800