Naveed Aslam, a Michigan oncologist who ran Somerset Hematology and Oncology in Royal Oak, was sentenced on November 17, 2025, to 18 months in federal prison for illegally diverting and selling more than $17 million in prescription cancer drugs. Aslam, 52, of West Bloomfield, pocketed more than $2.6 million in personal profit over roughly four years before a joint federal investigation shut the scheme down.1U.S. Department of Justice. Oncologist Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Selling Cancer Drugs
At the time of the conduct, Aslam was a practicing hematologist-oncologist affiliated with Corewell Health in Royal Oak and Troy and held an appointment as an assistant professor of internal medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.2The Oakland Press. West Bloomfield Cancer Doc With Office in Royal Oak Indicted in Cancer Drug Reselling Scheme
How the Scheme Worked
From early 2019 through August 2023, Aslam used his status as a licensed oncologist to buy expensive cancer medications from authorized distributors, telling them the drugs were for his own patients. Instead, he sold the drugs to and through a company run by unnamed co-conspirators, moving them outside the FDA-regulated supply chain.1U.S. Department of Justice. Oncologist Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Selling Cancer Drugs
The co-conspirators found customers who could not otherwise get specific cancer medications and sent those requests to Aslam, who placed the orders through his practice. He made money in three ways: charging the intermediary company more than his acquisition cost, sharing in the markup when the drugs were resold, and collecting distributor rebates and volume discounts tied to his purchase totals.3MDedge. Michigan Oncologist Charged in Scheme to Illegally Sell Cancer Drugs
Prosecutors said the scheme put patients at risk by moving drugs outside the FDA’s regulated distribution system, but found no evidence that any patient was actually harmed.1U.S. Department of Justice. Oncologist Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Selling Cancer Drugs
The Drugs Involved
The diverted medications were high-cost antibody drug conjugates used to treat metastatic cervical, breast, bladder, and urinary tract cancers. The indictment identified five:
- Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu)
- Enfortumab vedotin (Padcev)
- Tisotumab vedotin (Tivdak)
- Sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy)
- Mogamulizumab (Poteligeo)
Over roughly four years, Aslam acquired and sold more than $17 million worth of these drugs.3MDedge. Michigan Oncologist Charged in Scheme to Illegally Sell Cancer Drugs
Charges, Plea, and Sentence
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan indicted Aslam on October 23, 2024, on one count of conspiracy to illegally sell or trade prescription drugs and ten counts of illegally selling or trading prescription drugs. The charges were brought under the Prescription Drug Marketing Act, with the conviction statute cited as 21 U.S.C. ยง 333(a)(2).4U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Physician Charged in Scheme to Illegally Sell Cancer Drugs5GovInfo. United States v. Aslam, Judgment
On May 28, 2025, Aslam pleaded guilty to Count 11 under a Rule 11 plea agreement. The remaining ten counts, including the conspiracy charge, were dismissed. At sentencing on November 17, 2025, U.S. District Judge Brandy R. McMillion imposed 18 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, along with a $100 special assessment.6CourtListener. United States v. Aslam, Parties1U.S. Department of Justice. Oncologist Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Selling Cancer Drugs The investigation was handled jointly by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, the HHS Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Forfeiture and Medical License
The court ordered Aslam to forfeit more than $2.6 million, the full amount of his profit from the scheme. A stipulated forfeiture order was entered on September 17, 2025, and in December 2025 the court signed a stipulated order for the interlocutory sale of real property at 559 Barrington Park Drive in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, to satisfy the judgment.7CourtListener. United States v. Aslam, Docket
Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs placed Aslam’s medical license under summary suspension. As of early 2026 the license was listed as suspended, with an open formal complaint on file, and his controlled substance license was also suspended.8Michigan LARA. Licensee Detail – Naveed Aslam No appeal of the criminal conviction appears on the federal court docket.7CourtListener. United States v. Aslam, Docket