A Tennessee nurse who launched an unsuccessful reality TV career under the name “Rock Doc” has been jailed for 20 years for running an elaborate opioid ring.
Jeffrey Young, 49, was caught writing hundreds of thousands of prescriptions for drugs, including fentanyl, for his patients – with whom he also allegedly had sex on the side.
The self-proclaimed “Rock Doc” presented himself as a fun-loving practitioner with a “party” style clinic, while secretly prescribing “medically unnecessary” opioids to patients in exchange for sexual favors.
According to a survey conducted by The TennesseanEvidence of Young’s crimes and lewd behavior with patients — including accusations of rape — dates back to 2015, but he was allowed to continue for years until he was first charged in 2019 .
Jeffrey Young, 49, aka the “Rock Doc,” was jailed for 20 years for running an elaborate opioid ring out of his Tennessee clinic.
The self-proclaimed “Rock Doc” presented himself as a fun-loving practitioner with a “party” style clinic, while secretly prescribing “medically unnecessary” opioids to patients in exchange for sexual favors.
When he was first charged in 2019, he was found to have illegally prescribed a significant number of opioids, including 500,000 hydrocodone pills and 300,000 oxycodone pills.
That investigation uncovered extensive evidence that Young had sexual relations with his patients, and included a video in which Young allegedly pretended to determine a woman’s age and attractiveness by smelling her underwear.
The outlet claimed officials failed to take action when confronted with such allegations years ago, with the Health Ministry apparently receiving 13 complaints against Young since 2015.
These included charges of illegally prescribing opioids, as well as drug use, violations of patient privacy and threats.
In 2016, the department received a complaint that Young sold testosterone injections to a youth football team, but no investigation was ever opened.
The outlet claimed that when Young was questioned about the death of one of her patients, the lead investigator was so “afraid” of Young that she began carrying a gun to work.
He was also accused of rape, and during that investigation the Department of Health heard from two of its employees that Young regularly had sex with his patients.
When he was initially indicted in 2019, the Justice Department said he illegally prescribed 500,000 hydrocodone pills, 300,000 oxycodone pills, 1,500 fentanyl patches and more than 600,000 benzodiazepine pills as well as other controlled substances.
He had tried unsuccessfully to launch a reality TV show out of his clinic called “Rock Doc,” in which the tattooed nurse talked about his wacky daily life.
Along with his complex opioid network, Young had also been accused of rape, drug use and violations of patient privacy.
His crimes were reportedly reported to the authorities as early as 2015, but he was still able to continue his practice for years.
Despite lewd allegations since 2015, Young continued to operate for years and attempted to launch his own reality TV show “The Rock Doc” about his party clinic.
The show, which Young self-produced, saw the tattooed nurse offering a seemingly wide range of treatments and prescriptions, all while surrounded by glamorous young assistants.
While there were questions about how it was able to continue operating for years, The Tennessean claimed it enjoyed a cozy relationship with local police, which also included officers receiving prescriptions in exchange for favors.
After his 20-year federal prison sentence was handed down this week, the Justice Department criticized him for “abusing the power of the prescription pad.”
Nicole M. Argentieri, chief of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said: “The self-proclaimed ‘Rock Doc’ abused the power of the prescription pad to supply his small community with hundreds of thousands of doses of opioids.” highly addictive prescription drugs in order to get money. , notoriety and sexual favors.
“The defendant’s conduct put his patients and the community at large at risk.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this criminal conduct and the Department’s commitment to protecting communities from the scourge of illegally prescribed drugs.”
Young attempted to launch his own reality TV show “The Rock Doc” about his party clinic, where he offered a wide range of treatments and prescriptions, while surrounded by young female assistants (pictured).
At his trial, it was revealed that he had illegally prescribed drugs to hundreds of people, including a pregnant woman and women with whom he had secret romantic trysts.
He allegedly took advantage of the party atmosphere at his clinic to continue his behavior and “to increase his popularity” on social media and his reality TV show.
In a clip promoting his failed TV project, he was recorded kissing and toasting women at a nightclub to show off his adventurous side after work.
It also included behind-the-scenes clips of his assistants, receptionists and patients talking about how great “Rock Doc” was. Despite his nickname, he is not a doctor.
Following his sentencing, DEA Special Agent in Charge Erek Davodowich said, “Mr. Young operated a medical practice with wanton disregard for the health and well-being of his patients who entrusted him with their medical care.”
“Any healthcare provider who conducts business in a way that causes harm to their patients and the community should expect to face the full brunt of the justice system. »
The DOJ said it was ensnared in the Health Care Fraud Strike Force scheme, which charged more than 5,400 people with billing a total of $27 billion from federal and private health programs since 2007.