A federal judge sentenced Jerry Dale Leech, a chiropractor from Clayton, to 100 months in prison and ordered him to repay $4.7 million to Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare on Mar. 24 for his role in a healthcare fraud scheme involving illegal prescriptions and kickbacks.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address fraud within the healthcare system and combat the misuse of controlled substances such as oxycodone.
Leech pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in 2021 to conspiracy, obtaining controlled substances through fraud, receiving illegal kickbacks for referrals, and health care fraud. Two co-conspirators—Dr. Stanley L. Librach of Chesterfield and Dr. Asim Muhammad Ali of Creve Coeur—also pleaded guilty to similar charges.
During sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sestric called Leech “the ringmaster of the conspiracy.” Prosecutors said that Drs. Ali and Librach wrote prescriptions for powerful pain medication without legitimate medical purposes or proper patient examinations while Leech encouraged them despite evidence from drug tests indicating improper use or diversion of drugs.
Leech admitted responsibility for nearly 95,000 oxycodone pills distributed without medical justification. He also exchanged fraudulent prescriptions with other conspirators for cash or valuables and was involved in a scheme where urine samples were sent for testing at Central Diagnostic Laboratory operated by Dr. Ali in exchange for illegal kickbacks paid through business entities he controlled.
“Jerry Leech and his co-conspirators exploited Medicare and Medicaid and put patients at risk solely for their own financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). Hanley added that pushing opioid medications without legitimate purpose undermined programs designed to protect vulnerable individuals.
DEA St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said: “Jerry Leech and the individuals he conspired with misled patients and in essence stole from the healthcare system… The DEA will not stand for these types of actions.”
Eleven defendants were indicted initially—including doctors, staff members, and purported patients—with a twelfth added later; all have pleaded guilty.
Other sentences include Denis J. Mikhlin receiving nine years’ imprisonment; Drs Librach (60 months) and Ali (70 months) also received prison terms along with orders to repay millions defrauded from federal health care programs.
