Former Kane psychiatrist Thomas Radecki will spend more than a decade in state prison for running a “sex-for-pills scheme” out of his offices in Clarion, Kane and two other counties.
Thomas Edward Radecki, 70, of Clarion, was sentenced Wednesday in Clarion County Court to 11 years and one month to 22 years and two months in state prison. He had been found guilty in April after a 12-day trial in Clarion County Court of 12 felony offenses, including charges of illegal prescribing to nine patients, corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
Radecki was arrested in August 2013 following an investigation by the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and Medicaid Fraud Control Section, as well as numerous other law enforcement agencies.
Radecki operated four offices in Clarion, Venango, Clearfield counties and in Kane in McKean County. The offices were designed to serve as clinics where programs were developed to treat patients addicted to opiates.
It was determined that Radecki illegally dispensed and sold controlled substances, including Subutex, an opiate used to treat opiate addiction, in addition to drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin. During 2011, Radecki was the largest purchaser and distributor of Subutex in the United States.
Testimony at the trial revealed that Radecki in 2011 purchased more than 500,000 doses of Subutex. Combined with thousands of other doses of Adderall and Ritalin, Radecki distributed drugs with an estimated street value of more than $5 million.
Radecki also routinely prescribed addictive psychiatric medications for patients, including benzodiazepines — psychoactive drugs commonly prescribed to treat anxiety. Investigators stated these drug cocktails were outside the accepted treatment principles for doctors. Subutex is also highly addictive if not closely monitored by responsible practitioners, testimony at Radecki’s trial confirmed.
It was further determined that Radecki only accepted cash payments from patients, including those who qualified for medical assistance and others with private insurance. Despite requiring patients with private insurance to pay in cash, Radecki nonetheless submitted claims to their insurance companies.
Radecki also had inappropriate relationships with at least four female patients whom he continued to treat, including fathering a child with one patient.
A statewide investigating grand jury reviewed evidence and testimony related to this case prior to recommending the criminal charges that were filed in 2013. Investigators also executed 20 search warrants around the time of Radecki’s arrest. The search warrants resulted in the seizure of patient files, controlled substances and more than $465,000 — proceeds from Radecki’s illicit distribution of drugs. All four of Radecki’s clinics were closed after the searches were executed.
