A Moorefield, West Virginia physician was arrested Wednesday on charges of illegally prescribing medications that caused a deadly overdose in February.

U.S. Attorney Sharon L. Potter announced that Dr. Rajan Bakhshish Masih was arrested on charges that he allegedly distributed and dispensed 120 tablets of Hydromorphone and 50 doses of Diazepam to an individual February 20, resulting in the death of that individual from the use of the substances.

The criminal complaint further alleges that Masih did not distribute the substances for legitimate medical purposes in the usual course of his professional medical practices.

He had an initial appearance Wednesday before Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull and is currently in federal custody. A preliminary hearing and detention hearing have been scheduled for September 1 in Elkins.

The charge in the criminal complaint carries a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hagerstown, Maryland Task Force; the West Virginia State Police; the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; the West Virginia Insurance Commission; the Grant County Sheriff’s Department; and the City of Moorefield Police Department.

It should be noted that the charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Masih's lawyer, Steve Jory of Elkins, declined comment Thursday.

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