October 27, 2017: Central Kentucky Pharmacist Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone and Money Laundering
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Food and Drug Administration
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U.S. Department of Justice Press Release
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For Immediate Release |
United States Department of Justice Eastern District of Kentucky |
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Central Kentucky pharmacist, who owned and operated Hometown Pharmacy of Georgetown, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by two years of home incarceration as a term of his supervised release, for Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone and Money Laundering.
Chief United States District Judge Karen K. Caldwell formally sentenced Michael Ingram, 37, of Cynthiana, Ky., earlier today. Ingram must serve 85 percent of his sentence. Ingram has also forfeited in excess of $450,000 stemming from his criminal conduct.
In his July 2017 guilty plea, Ingram admitted that, while operating Hometown Pharmacy of Georgetown, he illegally distributed and dispensed oxycodone, by filling forged prescriptions from outside Kentucky. Ingram also admitted that his distribution and dispensation of these pills was outside the scope of pharmaceutical professional practice and was not for a legitimate medical purpose. Ingram further admitted that he used the proceeds of those illegal oxycodone sales to purchase the property now housing an additional business, Hometown Pharmacy of Cynthiana.
“We continue to see corrupt medical professionals choose profit over medical judgment and callously fuel an opioid epidemic that has decimated our state,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This despicable conduct does enormous damage, both to individuals struggling with addiction and to our communities as a whole. Combatting this epidemic requires that we be clear: these egregious breaches of professional trust are criminal conduct that will be prosecuted.”
Acting United States Attorney Shier; Mark McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations; Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration; and Tracey D. Montaño, Special Agent in Charge, IRS, Criminal Investigation, jointly announced the sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Smith and Cynthia Rieker.
Topic(s):
Drug Trafficking
Prescription Drugs
Component(s):