California Doctor Charged With Murder in Multiple Patient Deaths

(Los Angeles) – Hsiu-Ying “Lisa” Tseng, 42, a Rowland Heights doctor stands accused of the prescription drug overdose deaths of three patients – all young men in their 20s, and was arrested March 1, 2012 on a felony complaint filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charging her with second-degree murder and other crimes.

The three patients who died of drug overdoses are Vu Nguyen, 29, of Lake Forest, on March 2, 2009; Steven Ogle, 25, of Palm Desert, on April 9, 2009; and Joseph Rovero III, 21, a University of Arizona student from San Ramon, on Dec. 18, 2009. All were patients of Tseng who prescribed a myriad of drugs for these young men. If convicted as charged the defendant faces a possible maximum state prison term of 45 years to life.

Besides the murders, Tseng is charged with one felony count of prescribing drugs using fraud (Section 11173(a) of the Health and Safety Code), and 20 felony counts of prescribing drugs without a legitimate purpose (Section 1153(a) of the Health and Safety Code). Three of the prescription counts involve two of the patients who died. The remainder of the prescription counts involves victims who survived or prescriptions written for undercover officers.

Tseng was taken into custody by California State Medical Board investigators a day after prosecutors with the Major Narcotics Division filed the felony complaint for arrest warrant (BA 394495). Tseng is being held on $3 million bail. Arraignment is scheduled for Friday in Superior Court Department 30 in the Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles.

“Prescription drug abuse has risen to alarming levels and is having a devastating impact on our families and communities,” said Timothy J. Landrum, DEA Special Agent in Charge. “Many obtain these dangerous drugs from doctors prescribing drugs for no medical need. DEA is committed to working together with our state and local counterparts to ensure doctors who abuse their authority are not allowed to continue to do so.”

“Deaths from overdoses of prescription drugs now outnumber deaths from traffic accidents in the United States,” said District Attorney Steve Cooley. “Prescription drug overdose deaths have reached epidemic proportions. Enough is enough. Doctors are not above the law.

“Dr. Feelgoods who knowingly over-prescribe drugs for no medical reason other than someone asks for the drugs and pays the doctor a staggering amount of money will be dealt with severely,” the District Attorney added in a written statement. “They are violating the law by prescribing drugs for no legitimate medical purpose to otherwise healthy individuals for the sole purpose of the patient getting high. Those victims die while the doctor gets rich.”

Tseng, licensed to practice in 1997, opened a storefront medical office in Rowland Heights in 2005. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) launched an investigation in 2008 after a pharmacy reported overlapping customers. The lead investigative agency is the California Medical Board. Both agencies worked closely with Deputy District Attorney John Niedermann of the Major Narcotics Division, the lead prosecutor in the case.

The investigation involved undercover work and a search warrant that was executed at Tseng’s clinic. Tseng’s DEA Certificate of Registration to prescribe controlled substances was revoked by the DEA in 2010. The Osteopathic Medical Board of California has moved to revoke her medical license. Her husband, also a physician, continues to operate the clinic, Advanced Care AAA Medical.

Arrest by WAVE Team Results in 115-Month Federal Sentence

Charles C. Christian, 29, of East St. Louis, received a 115-month federal sentence following his conviction for the offenses of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances, possession of marijuana, and possession of crack cocaine, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Following release from imprisonment, Christian will be on federal supervised release for three years. Christian has been in custody since November 17, 2010, following his arrest by the Working Against Violent Elements (WAVE) task force. A jury found him guilty of the charges on March 16, 2011.

The evidence at trial revealed that members of the WAVE task force encountered Christian in Brooklyn, Illinois, during the late evening hours of November 17, 2010. Officers approached Christian, who was on foot and apparently urinating in the weeds. As officers approached, Christian jumped back into his car and led officers in a high-speed chase. When officers retraced Christian’s path of flight, they discovered a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol and a bag of crack cocaine. Christian had marijuana in his pocket and in his vehicle. At sentencing, it was revealed that Christian was on parole at the time of the offense, and he has a lengthy criminal history.

United States Attorney Wigginton stated, “The public has no tolerance for armed parolees leading law enforcement officers on high speed chases. I am thankful that no police officers or innocent members of the public were harmed when Charles Christian decided he would try to outrun the police. I commend the WAVE team members for their efforts to restore our communities to the law abiding citizens who are tired of the guns, drugs, shootings, and disruptive conduct which occurs at all times of the day and night.”

The WAVE Task Force focuses its efforts on combating violent crime in East St. Louis, Washington Park, and surrounding communities. WAVE was formed in November, 2009, and is a collaboration of law enforcement officers from the Illinois State Police, the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI), the East St. Louis Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The WAVE Task Force receives financial support through the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide federal program which endeavors to address gun-related violence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne M. Garrison.

Former U.S. Official Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Woman on Embassy Property in Algeria

WASHINGTON - Andrew Warren, 43, a former official with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was sentenced today to 65 months in prison on charges of abusive sexual contact and unlawful use of cocaine while possessing a firearm, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., and Eric J. Boswell, Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security.

Warren pleaded guilty to the charges in June 2010 and was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by the U.S. District Court Judge Ellen S. Huvelle.   Judge Huvelle also sentenced Warren to 10 years of supervised release following his prison term.

During the plea hearing last year, Warren admitted that on Feb. 17, 2008, he committed abusive sexual contact while on U.S. embassy property in Algiers, Algeria, by engaging in sexual contact with a female victim after he rendered her unconscious.   Additionally, Warren admitted that on April 26, 2010, he unlawfully used cocaine while possessing a Glock, 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol in Norfolk, Va.

This case was investigated by Diplomatic Security Service; the U.S. Marshals Service in Norfolk; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Norfolk Police Department; and the Inspector General and the General Counsel of the CIA.   The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Christine Duey of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julieanne Himelstein of the District of Columbia and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Haynie from the Eastern District of Virginia.

Methamphetamine - Community Prevention Tactics

June 20, 2008, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) On June 27, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Former San Francisco Police Department Inspector Linda Flanders and Red Wing Police Department Chief of Police Tim Sletten about community prevention tactics and methamphetamine addiction.

Program Date: June 27, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Methamphetamine - Community Prevention Tactics
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/06/28/Methamphetamine-Community-Prevention-Tactics

About the Guests
In the 1970s, Linda Flanders was the first female police officer to join the Mill Valley police Department (California). By 1980, she had moved across the bay and joined the San Francisco Police Department. During her career she was promoted to the rank of Inspector and trained as a Child Interview Specialist. Linda Flanders worked for several years in the Juvenile Division’s Child Sexual Assault Detail.

Linda Flanders has a degree in Criminal Justice and became a Movement Education Teacher in 1991. Since 1999, she has worked as an independent educational filmmaker and, co-developed the “The Movie Making Process©” as a learning and teaching tool for today’s kids. Using a mix of art education, pop-culture and digital technology the process has developed into the 21st Century Prevention Program. The original work, “The Movie Making Process”© was recently nominated by the State of Wisconsin as their “Most Promising Prevention Program”.

Linda Flanders has published several articles on alternative learning styles and children who exhibit atypical behavior. And, is the author of the self-help Cinema-therapy book for teens Hollywood Endings and How To Get One. The prevention program for communities is called The Northern Lights; Shining The Light on the Meth-edemic and mixes entertainment and education to deal with methamphetamine specifically and addiction in general. Linda Flanders’ current project is to work with communities nationwide on the prevention program and evaluation, document it in a peer-reviewed article and submit the findings to the National Institute of Health as a model program. She is actively looking for communities to join this endeavor. www.taprootinc.com

Chief of Police Tim Sletten worked his way up through the ranks of the Red Wing Police Department (Minnesota) and was appointed Chief in 2004. He is very active with the town’s community groups and a visual presence at all events. As a small town Chief, he’s learning quickly how to deal with global issues at the local level. He’s an advocate for up-to date training, known for addressing community concerns immediately and recognizes the need to connect with young people through their own interests. Of The Northern Lights; Shining The Light on the Meth-edemic project, Chief Tim Sletten said, “This is the first thing I’ve ever seen that was created specifically for the kids.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530