PORTLAND — A former Portland podiatrist entered a not-guilty plea in federal court Friday to drug and health-care fraud charges arising from his alleged writing of illegal prescriptions.

John Perry, 50, is charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, health care fraud, and 43 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Perry wrote prescriptions with no medical purpose, traded prescriptions for cash and cocaine, and fabricated patient charts to cover the illegal prescriptions, all while practicing at his business, Atlantic Foot & Ankle Center in Portland, during 2009 and 2010, according to the indictment.

The indictment alleges 43 illicit prescriptions. Perry allegedly illegally dispensed a total of 2,780 30-milligram oxycodone pills, 180 Dilaudid pills and 30 Xanax pills.

Perry wrote prescriptions at locations that included bars and a strip club, and charged some people at least $500 for an oxycodone prescription, according to the indictment.

He was among a group of men who police found at the now-closed Dreamers Cabaret in Westbrook in December 2010, after it had been shut down for code violations.

Perry entered the courtroom Friday morning in orange jail clothes and ankle shackles, with his hands behind his back in handcuffs, which were removed.

He provided brief answers to procedural questions from Magistrate Judge John Rich III.

After the brief proceeding, Leonard Sharon, Perry’s attorney, said they were looking forward to receiving the discovery and evaluating the government’s case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Joyce declined to comment.

Perry’s detention hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday. The government is asking that he be held without bail, saying that there are no conditions that could guarantee the safety of the community or his future appearance in court.

Sharon, however, said Perry poses no risk of flight. The lawyer noted that Perry has been aware of the investigation for more than a year.

The conspiracy charge and all but one of the drug distribution charges carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The health care fraud charge has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Staff Writer Ann S. Kim can be contacted at 791-6383 or at:

akim@pressherald.com