MILFORD, CT (TIP): A federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment on July 26 charging Indian American physician Dr. Bharat Patel, 70, of Milford, and his ally Dr. Ramil Mansourov, 47, of Darien, both residents of Connecticut, with narcotics distribution, health care fraud and money laundering offenses.

Patel was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 12 and is detained. Mansourov was apprehended by the Canada Border Services Agency on an immigration offense on July 13 and is currently detained in Canada.

The five-count indictment charges Patel and Mansourov with one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and hydrocodone, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count health care fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. The indictment also charges Mansourov with two counts and Patel with one count of money laundering, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of Patel’s Milford residence, Mansourov’s Darien residence, $16,521.25 seized from a safe deposit box rented by PATEL, and money judgments equal to the proceeds of Patel and Mansourov alleged criminal conduct.