Aaron Rossi prescribed medications at least eight times without authorization while he worked for an orthopedic surgeon in Bloomington and spent over $133,000 in company funds on personal items, according to a complaint state regulators have filed against the Reditus Labs CEO.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), the agency which handles all professional licensing in Illinois, has accused Rossi of willfully making and filing false records, misuse of funds and immoral and unprofessional conduct in a civil complaint, stemming from Rossi’s time as a surgical assistant at Central Illinois Orthopedic Surgery (CIOS).
The records were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by WGLT. According to the complaint, Rossi wrote four unauthorized prescriptions from May to October 2017 for hydrocodone and acetaminophen, an opioid generally prescribed as a pain reliever. Rossi also allegedly wrote four prescriptions for amphetamine salts between September and December 2017. The complaint does not indicate whom the prescriptions were for. An attorney for a business partner of Rossi accused him of prescribing opiates to himself and to others.
IDFPR also accuses Rossi of using CIOS' checking account to rack up over $133,000 in unauthorized bills, including to a home theater company, a hearing clinic, a John Deere dealership in Bloomington, and a soccer academy.
The complaint lists seven counts against Rossi. Each offense calls for Rossi’s license to be suspended or revoked and for Rossi to be fined up to $10,000 for each violation. Rossi, 39, of Bloomington. was given a notice to appear before an administrative law judge on March 7. It’s not clear what the current status of the complaint is. IDFPR has denied WGLT’s request for comment, saying it does not comment on investigations or confirm their existence.
According to the agency’s website, Rossi’s license as a registered surgical assistant is due to expire May 31.
After Rossi’s time at CIOS, he reopened the orthotics company PAL Health Technologies in Pekin and launched Reditus Labs, which secured contracts through the state of Illinois totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for coronavirus testing.
The City of Bloomington denied WGLT’s request for police records related to an investigation inquiry of Rossi. In its denial, the city said the documents are part of an ongoing court case and includes evidence which may be used at trial.
Rossi is involved in several lawsuits involving business partners alleging misuse of funds. He also faces federal criminal charges alleging tax fraud.
“Release of this information would likely result in more media attention which would potentially deprive the defendant of a fair trial or impartial hearing,” the city said, adding it may also hurt interfere with a law enforcement investigation.
A request to Reditus Labs seeking comment has not been returned. Rossi did not comment when approached by reporters on Thursday as he left U.S. District Court in Peoriafollowing his initial court appearance on unrelated tax fraud charges.
Copyright 2022 WGLT. To see more, visit WGLT.
