A Michigan podiatrist pleaded guilty to doling out highly addictive opioids to women in exchange for sex, cash or other drugs over a two-year span, federal prosecutors said.
Dr. Maninder Deswal, 44, of Lansing Podiatry in East Lansing, entered the plea Monday on charges for illegally prescribing opioids like Percocet and Norco to “various women” outside of his medical practice, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Deswal, 44, gave out the controlled substance prescriptions to women from December 2018 to September 2020 in exchange for cash, “sexual favors” and other drugs, federal prosecutors said.
In January 2020, Deswal gave a woman identified in court documents as L.F. a prescription for 61 hydrocodone-acetaminophen pills — an addictive opioid also known as Norco.
He then gave the same prescription to a second woman identified in Deswal’s plea agreement as C.S. on Sept. 11, 2020.
Dr. Maninder Deswal pleaded guilty to giving women drugs in exchange for sexual favors.
“These were just a few of the many prescriptions issued to C.S. and L.F., and others, that were issued outside the course of professional medical practice and for no legitimate medical purpose,” the plea agreement reads.
A woman who answered the phone Tuesday at Lansing Podiatry identified Deswal as the owner of the practice. He was unavailable for comment, she told The Post.
A message seeking comment from Deswal’s attorney was not immediately returned. Attempts to reach Deswal at other phone numbers listed in his name were unsuccessful.
Deswal, of Lansing, has been practicing podiatry since 2012, specializing in diabetic foot care and orthotics. He’s also a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, according to the practice’s website.
Police say Dr. Maninder Deswal gave out the controlled substance prescriptions to women from December 2018 to September 2020. Nathan Griffith/Corbis via Getty ImagesDeswal, who pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, is set to be sentenced on May 24. He faces a minimum penalty of probation and up to 20 years in prison. District Court Judge Judith Levy will determine his sentence.






