Michigan podiatrist pleads guilty to running sex-for-drugs scheme

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 Narco 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.

“These women were not patients and issuing them prescriptions was not for legitimate medical purposes, but rather personal consumption and further drug diversion,” prosecutors said in a statement Monday.

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.

It’s unclear if he’s hired an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Attempts to reach him 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.

Deswal, who pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, is set to be sentenced on May 24.