Correction: Starbucks Doc Pleads Not Guilty to Doling Out Fake Prescriptions Throughout O.C.

Correction: An earlier headline on this story incorrectly said the doctor pleaded guilty. He pleaded NOT guilty.

An Irvine physician pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday to accusations that he illegally prescribed pain medication, often at Starbucks coffee shops throughout Orange County.

Alvin Mingczech Yee, 43, of Mission Viejo, was arrested at his Irvine office on a grand jury indictment that alleges he prescribed drugs such as oxycodone and hydrocodone "without a legitimate medical purpose.''

Yee met with up to a dozen people every night of the week and issued prescriptions for cash, the indictment alleges.

Some patients traveled from Seattle, Phoenix and Detroit to get prescriptions from Yee, according to Thom Mrozek of the U.S. Attorney's Office, who said one-third of the doctor's clientele were no older than 25 years old.

Yee wrote prescriptions for drugs such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax, Adderall and Suboxone, according to Mrozek, who said roughly half of the prescriptions were for oxycodone.

The indictment returned last Wednesday charges Yee with 50 counts of illegal distribution of a controlled substance by a medical practitioner and six counts of prescribing drugs to a minor under 21 years old, Mrozek said.

Yee was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Orange and Huntington Beach police departments, Mrozek said.

Yee will post $500,000 bond and be released to home detention, Mrozek said.

Trial has been scheduled for Dec. 20.

—City News Service