Terence Sasaki, M.D., is a neurologist who earned his medical degree from the University of Hawaii and completed his residency at New York University (NYU). In a deeply troubling turn of events, Dr. Sasaki confessed to a crime in 2007 during an interrogation conducted by the DEA, which they claimed was unrecorded. This confession ultimately led to his indictment in 2010 and subsequent conviction in 2012 on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering.
The case of Dr. Terence Sasaki is marked by a multitude of errors, revealing both his legal and factual innocence to a degree rarely witnessed in any other case we have encountered, as exemplified by the recent Ruan v. U.S., 597 U.S., ____ (2022). Independent experts, including pharmacists, scrutinizing the prescription exhibits, uncovered glaring errors that no competent physician would ever make. It became evident that Dr. Terence Sasaki had fallen victim to identity fraud in relation to the prescriptions. Moreover, the extent of verifiable perjury committed by the prosecution, including DEA Agent Tyler Parkison and IRS Agent Robert Thatcher, is truly astonishing. Contrary to DEA Agent Parkison's testimony, the prescriptions lacked Dr. Sasaki's DEA number and proper signature. Bank records irrefutably demonstrated that IRS Agent Thatcher's claims were false, as Dr. Sasaki had not profited from the alleged conspiracy.
Further investigation into the case unveiled a disheartening truth: federal prosecutors, including AUSAs Edward F. Feran and Rebecca C. Lutzko, were aware of Dr. Terence Sasaki's innocence throughout the prosecution process. It appears that the courts, the prosecution team, prison employees, and even Dr. Sasaki's own attorneys cooperated in securing his conviction despite their knowledge of his clear innocence. For instance, Dr. Sasaki's paid legal representation, composed of Jerome "Jay" Milano, Megan Rha, and Duejong "Jenny" Kim, provided the prosecution with their client's private emails, submitted affidavits, and testified against Dr. Sasaki, ultimately leading to a longer prison sentence.
Dr. Terence Sasaki bore the full weight of a crime he did not commit, and the U.S. Criminal Justice system is cognizant of his innocence. Unfortunately, the U.S. federal court system appears reluctant to admit its mistakes, and it is expected that they will continue to resist and delay rectifying the egregious injustice imposed on Terence Sasaki, M.D. However, it is our hope that this correction will be swiftly forthcoming, as it is long overdue.
