Florida judge orders sanctions against prosecutors

The L.A. Times reports:

Calling the actions of prosecutors "profoundly disturbing," a federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to pay sanctions topping $600,000 in the case of a southern Florida physician charged with illegally prescribing painkillers.

In a harshly worded order, U.S. District Judge Alan Gold said the " 'win-at-all-cost' behavior" of federal prosecutors Sean Cronin and Andrea Hoffman raised "troubling issues about the integrity of those who wield enormous power over the people they prosecute."

Dr. Ali Shaygan, 36, a Miami Beach resident, was found not guilty March 12 of 141 counts of unlawful prescribing. Prosecutors had accused Shaygan of selling prescriptions for powerful pain medications without legitimate medical purpose, leading to the overdose death of a West Palm Beach man.