A Stockton nurse practitioner is under federal investigation for allegedly selling illegal opioids for cash across the nation, according to a civil complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. The complaint seeks to prohibit Joan Rubinger from prescribing controlled substances after she allegedly issued 900 illegitimate prescriptions between November 1, 2019, and June 17, 2024.
Court documents from the Eastern District of California describe Rubinger’s operation as “unorthodox.” Her practice reportedly lacked oversight by a licensed physician, and she allegedly met customers at non-medical locations without tools, records, or supplies for proper treatment.
Rubinger is accused of accepting cash payments, communicating with customers via Telegram—an encrypted messaging app—and providing price lists for highly addictive drugs such as Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and Adderall. She also allegedly distributed a document called “THE RULES” to new customers to evade detection by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The complaint states that Rubinger issued prescriptions without examinations or medical records and allowed customers to pay in advance. Customers reportedly used the names of family members and friends to avoid suspicion about large quantities of prescribed drugs.
Federal authorities allege that many of Rubinger’s customers either abused the drugs or resold them on the street. If found liable, Rubinger could face a permanent ban on prescribing controlled substances.
