Diet drug 'pill mill' lands Bucks doc in federal prison | Philadelphia ... - Philadelphia Inquirer

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A Bucks County doctor has been sentenced to 34 months in federal prison for operating a $5 million diet drug "pill mill" in Northeast Philadelphia.

Christopher Vassalluzzo, 47, of New Hope, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, structuring, aggravated structuring, conspiracy to commit tax evasion, and tax evasion.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Vassalluzzo ran a "pill mill" from his office in the Holme Circle section, netting more than $5 million by illegally distributing prescriptions for controlled substance diet drugs.

At Vassalluzzo's sentencing Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Anita Brody also ordered the doctor to forfeit over $5 million.

Federal prosectors said some of the money will be collected through the sale of a Shore home, a timeshare in Florida and Vassalluzzo's Bucks County home.

And Vassalluzzo was ordered to pay more than $1 million to the Internal Revenue Service for back taxes and interest, prosecutors said.

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