Pill Mill Doc Case Coming to Trial in Kansas Next Month

"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws."
- Plato (427-347 B.C.)

(WICHITA, Kansas) - Wichita, Kansas newspapers are reporting that the federal trial of a Haysville doctor and his wife on charges of illegally prescribing painkillers has been reset for April 26, 2010.

The trial of Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife, Linda Schneider, a Licensed Practical Nurse who worked for him had been scheduled to start this week but lawyers asked for more time to prepare for the trial, which is expected to last two months.

The Schneiders are accused of scheming to illegally dispense prescription drugs and defraud health insurance programs and patients through their Haysville clinic. They also are accused of money laundering. An indictment linked the Haysville clinic of Stephen Schneider and his wife, Linda to "68" overdose deaths as part of a conspiracy, although the couple are directly charged with contributing to "21" of those deaths.

The Schneiders contend they are innocent and that the federal government is improperly interfering in the doctor-patient relationship. Now may be a good time for the Pain Relief Network to erect the sign once again on the highway reading "Dr. Schneider did not kill anyone." In the meantime, I think it only fair that the families of the "21 true victims" -- who are dead -- erect a highway billboard reading "A jury will decide if Dr. Schneider killed anyone."

The Pain Relief Network (PRN) defends physicians who are charged with running "pill mills" resulting in the deaths and addictions of patients. They do not believe there should be any interference by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) or the Department of Justice (DOJ) between a physician and their treatment of a patient when activities appear to be less doctor/ patient relationship -- and more criminal activity.

The PRN has the following posting (spelling and grammar not corrected) on their website by a physician who is in prison -- it reads:

My Story: I’m a family practice physician recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for providing basic pain management to my patients. The story is quit classic a single patient one day decides to write forged prescriptions to various pharmacies, after he’s caught in the act, he’s told to become an informant for the police and all his charges are dropped. Then the federal prosecutor charges me with RICO (racketeering influenced corrupt organization) although I’m a single physician. the trial based soley on the new informant testifing to a host of lies claiming that the doctor sold him over 600 pills in a 2 month period no proof of popssession no proof of illegal prescribing just purely fabricated testomy and the prosecutors standard of what can be prescribed by a physician.

Below is the press release indicating the charges against Dr. Reese and the verdict and sentencing -- differs somewhat from Dr. Reese's recollection.

DOCTOR SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON

NEW BERN, NC - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on February 18, 2010, Chief United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced PERRY REESE, III, 51, to 240 months’ imprisonment followed by three years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on April 2, 2008, charging REESE with two counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. On February 25, 2009, a federal jury found REESE guilty on all counts.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that the SBI (State Bureau of Investigation) had began its investigation of REESE, the owner and sole physician of Roseboro Urgent Care in Sampson County, North Carolina, in December, 2002, when a patient of REESE'S approached the SBI about the numerous prescriptions for Oxycontin and other drugs he had been purchasing from REESE. The patient was taking 30-35 Oxycontin pills each day and chewing them for a faster effect - all at the direction of REESE. The Government’s medical expert testified that these practices were not only illegal but endangered the life of the patient. Based on this information, the SBI conducted four controlled purchases from REESE. During the first purchase, on December 17, 2002, 45 Oxycontin pills were purchased from REESE. That same day, a prescription was purchased for Oxycontin with REESE. Then, in February, 2003 and April, 2003, two additional prescriptions were purchased for Oxycontin and Percocet from REESE. REESE conducted no medical examination and there was no pretense of medical treatment.

Several patients testified at trial. Evidence at trial showed that REESE wrote prescriptions without conducting a medical examination, without asking the witnesses questions about pain or treatment, and without attempting to treat the underlying illness or problem. For two patients the evidence also showed that REESE prescribed so many drugs, he also wrote prescriptions in the names of their friends and family members to hide the number of pills he was prescribing for each patient. REESE also met patients in parking lots and at gas stations. For all of these prescriptions, the patients paid a fee–often based on the number of pills in the prescription. In addition to purchasing prescriptions, one of the patients purchased Oxycontin pills as well. One patient testified that she paid REESE in cash, jewelry, and a generator for her prescriptions.

These patients all became addicted to the pills they were receiving. Some of them even attended rehabilitation, but despite REESE’s knowledge of this, he continued to provide them unlimited amounts of Percocet and Oxycontin.

The Court also found that REESE had abused a position of trust and used a minor in the commission of the crime. Finally, the Court found that REESE had committed perjury at trial.

Mr. Holding stated: “Physicians are given wide discretion to provide drugs to those with a medical need. When a physician abandons his or her role as doctor and dispenses drugs to anyone willing to pay money without any concern for medical need, that physician is no different than a street drug dealer. Physicians who violate the principles of their profession and endanger the lives of their patients deserve to be severely punished.”

Investigation of this case was conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David Bragdon represented the government.

I will be writing about the Schneider trial as it unfolds -- and I am sure readers will find the case "riveting" -- for lack of a better word. And if another highway billboard is erected to agitate the judge hearing the case, the photo will also be published.

A few months ago, I received an email from the PRN saying that "one day the DOJ would come for me too." Since I'm not a drug lord in a 3-piece suit who promoted OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused -- and since I'm not a parasite who defends "pill mills" that kill and hopelessly addict patients, I don't expect anyone will be coming for me from the DOJ any time soon.

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Salem-News.com Reporter Marianne Skolek, is an Activist for Victims of OxyContin throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2007, she testified against Purdue Pharma in Federal Court in Virginia at the sentencing of their three CEO's who pled guilty to charges of marketing OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients. She also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007. Marianne works with government agencies and private attorneys in having a voice for her daughter Jill, who died in 2002 after being prescribed OxyContin, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin. She has been involved in her work for the past 7-1/2 years and is currently working on a book that exposes Purdue Pharma for their continued criminal marketing of OxyContin.

Marianne is a nurse having graduated in 1991 as president of her graduating class. She also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.