A West Los Angeles pharmacy owner pleaded guilty on Feb. 5 to federal criminal charges stemming from a scheme in which he received millions of dollars in reimbursements for compounded drugs. The defendant accepted payments of illegal kickbacks for patient referrals and other schemes regarding patient copayments, authorities said.

Navid Vahedi, 41, of Brentwood, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and payment of illegal remunerations. Vahedi also entered a guilty plea to the felony offense on behalf of his business, Fusion Rx Compounding Pharmacy.

Fusion Rx was a provider of compounded drugs, which doctors may prescribe when the FDA-approved alternative does not meet the health needs of a patient. In their plea agreements, Vahedi and Fusion Rx admitted routing millions of dollars in kickback payments through the businesses of two marketers to steer prescriptions for compounded drugs to Fusion Rx. As part of the scheme, Vahedi and the two marketers provided physicians with preprinted prescription script pads. A sentencing hearing on June 28. Vahedi faces five years in federal prison.