A St. Joseph podiatrist could get up to 20 years in prison on some opioid-related charges. The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office tells WSJM News Dr. Craig Sherwood pleaded no contest on Thursday to ten felony charges. They are five counts of diverting opioids and five counts of healthcare fraud. The prosecutor tells us Sherwood between 2014 and 2016 wrote prescriptions in the names of family members who were not his patients. He’s also accused of writing opioid prescriptions to his patients and encouraging them to bring back any unused portions to him. Many of those prescriptions were paid for by private insurance. The prosecutor does note the Southwest Michigan Enforcement Team investigation did not find evidence Sherwood sold any of those drugs. He’s now in the process of giving up his DEA license, which authorizes him to write prescriptions. Sherwood is free on bond and awaiting sentencing on December 11.
