A Boise doctor was sentenced to eight years in federal prison today on 80 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances; Michael Minas, 50, was convicted on 80 counts by a jury in May. In addition to his prison term, U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge ordered Minas to pay an $80,000 fine.

During his trial, several of Minas’ former employees testified that his Eagle practice transitioned over time from a standard family practice to one catering to patients claiming chronic pain and seeking opioid narcotics. He generally charged $100 cash for an appointment, and prescribed drugs including oxycodone, fentanyl and hydromorphone.

Wendy Olson, U.S. Attorney for Idaho, said in a statement, “The lengthy prison sentence imposed by the court well serves the interests of justice in this case. Medical doctors who knowingly prescribe powerful and addictive painkillers without a legitimate medical purpose are no different than drug dealers.  They abuse the trust of their patients, and they create both a public safety and a public health problem.”

Minas operated the River Medical Family Practice in Eagle until his arrest in June of 2014.  The case was investigated by an array of law enforcement agencies led by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.