Doctor, sales rep charged in alleged health care fraud kickback conspiracy

Dr. Steven Chun, 57, of Sarasota, and Daniel Tondre, 50, of Tampa, have been charged in a 16-count indictment with allegedly conspiring to pay and receiving kickbacks in connection with prescribing a fentanyl spray.

According to the indictment, Chun, owned and operated a pain management medical practice in Sarasota where he prescribed a large volume of Schedule II opioids, including fentanyl. Tondre was employed as a sales representative for Insys Therapeutics Inc., a company that manufactured and sold Subsys, an expensive form of liquid fentanyl designed to be applied under the tongue, allowing it to rapidly enter the bloodstream, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office.