(CNN) Five top executives of Insys Therapeutics -- maker of Subsys, a version of the extremely powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl -- were found guilty Thursday on federal racketeering charges for bribing doctors to prescribe the painkiller to people who didn't need it. They were also convicted of defrauding Medicare and private insurance.

Andrew Lelling, US attorney for the district of Massachusetts, hailed the convictions as "the first successful prosecution of top pharmaceutical executives for crimes related to the illicit marketing and prescribing of opioids." The trial put on display sales tactics such as lap dances to lure doctors and a company vice president who dressed as a Subsys bottle and rapped during a company promo.

The jury took 15 days to reach its verdict against the executives, including founder and one-time billionaire John Kapoor.

"Just as we would street-level drug dealers, we will hold pharmaceutical executives responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic by recklessly and illegally distributing these drugs, especially while conspiring to commit racketeering along the way," Lelling said after Thursday's ruling.

Lelling hailed the verdict as a "landmark prosecution" and vindication against executives he said put greed ahead of the American public.

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