New Haven psychiatrist Naimetulla Ahmed Syed paid $455,439 February 2025 to resolve federal and state False Claims Act and CSA violations for prescribing dangerously high amounts of controlled substances including holy trinity combinations without legitimate medical purpose from 2016–2021; received 20-year Medicare/Medicaid exclusion and surrendered medical license.

Naimetulla Ahmed Syed, M.D. — New Haven Psychiatrist Settles Holy Trinity Prescribing and Healthcare Fraud (2016–2025)

Outcome: Naimetulla Ahmed Syed, M.D., a psychiatrist with offices in Danbury and New Haven, Connecticut, agreed to pay $455,439.26 in a civil settlement announced February 8, 2025, to resolve federal and state False Claims Act and Controlled Substances Act allegations that between 2016 and 2021 he prescribed dangerously high amounts of controlled substances without legitimate medical purpose, including holy trinity drug combinations, to patients showing signs of addiction or diversion; Syed received a 20-year exclusion from federal health programs and surrendered his medical license.

Naimetulla Ahmed Syed, M.D. was a licensed psychiatrist who was the sole practitioner at medical offices in Danbury and New Haven, Connecticut. Between 2016 and 2021, Syed was accused of prescribing dangerously high amounts of controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose. His prescriptions frequently included the "holy trinity" — a high-risk combination of opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants — and other dangerous drug combinations. Syed also issued controlled substances to patients showing signs of abuse, addiction, or diversion without adequately addressing those clinical concerns.

In addition to the CSA violations, Syed submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program for these services. On June 16, 2021, Syed voluntarily surrendered his DEA licenses.

As part of the $455,439.26 settlement, Syed agreed to a 20-year exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid, and all other federal health care programs, a 20-year suspension from the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program, and cessation of medical practice as of November 25, 2024, with an agreement not to renew his physician license. The settlement was a related proceeding to the April 2024 settlement with Whalley Drug, which had filled many of Syed's prescriptions.

Primary Source: DEA Press Release — New Haven Psychiatrist to Pay More Than $450K to Settle False Claims Act and Controlled Substances Act Allegations (Feb. 8, 2025)