Often, the crimes involve the diversion of legitimate drugs for illegitimate medical purposes, such as supplying addicts with high-strength painkillers like Oxycodone.
Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist with offices in Las Vegas and Houston, was identified by a Jackson advisor as the singer's personal doctor of three years and the man tapped to safeguard his health during the grueling comeback concert series that was supposed to start this month in London.
The law enforcement official said there was no immediate indication that Murray had done anything wrong or that Jackson was getting prescription drugs illegally or inappropriately, including medication he did not need or doses that were too large or administered over too long a period of time.
But, he said that in "investigations such as this, that's what they're looking for."
The Los Angeles County coroner's office has said that it was conducting tests to determine whether Jackson overdosed on prescription medications that he was taking.
The DEA's role in the investigation was still being worked out.
"A lot of drugs, you need a prescription each time you get a refill. They will be looking at sources of [the drug] supply, where are the drugs coming from, are they doing criminal stuff, such as writing many, many prescriptions and having people fill them around town?" the official said.
The DEA will also look into how Jackson's doctors stand with the agency, which requires them to register for the authority to prescribe certain medications, the official said.
Also, the DEA will investigate whether those doctors had a "face-to-face relationship" with Jackson, which is required.
In a number of cases, the official said, the DEA has found doctors dispensing medications without having diagnosed or even seen the patient, which can be illegal.
A doctor can lose his or her license if found to be improperly or illegally administering medications, especially in cases in which a patient dies or is gravely injured.
In extreme cases where death occurs, law enforcement officials said, doctors or other "enablers" can be charged with criminal manslaughter if they obtain or administer medication in a manner that displays a reckless disregard for human life.
Authorities removed prescription drugs and other medical evidence from the Holmby Hills home where Jackson died.
A law enforcement source told The Times that Propofol, a powerful anesthetic, was among the drugs recovered.
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josh.meyer@latimes.com
andrew.blankstein@latimes.com
