ViaDerma Inc (VDRM)

[starving scholar]

An Inland, CA podiatrist is trying to rebuild his life after being acquitted in a prescription fraud case that authorities said was nationwide. More than two years ago, Christopher Otiko was accused of ordering prescriptions illegally for his wife, who was arrested earlier in the same case. "It was the worst experience of my life," he said.












Dr. Christopher Otiko

Celeste Otiko, who was divorced from her husband in January, 2007, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, according to court records. She was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison followed by three years supervised released. Christopher Otiko, who lives in Riverside, said his ex-wife testified against him at trial. The trial began Aug. 10 in North Carolina. On Aug. 20, he was found not guilty on all 28 counts.

He was acquitted.

The arrests made news across the country leading friends who saw it to call him. Many friends and colleagues stopped communicating with him. Over time, he had to shut down his practice in Moreno Valley and had trouble finding another job. "I had a pretty good social standing in my community," he said. "I went from making quite a nice living to literally living below the poverty line." Now, he's trying to start over with a new career outside of medicine. "I've got to figure out what I'm going to do for the rest of my life," he said