Latest news with #controlledsubstances
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Hobart GP Clive Stack fined $40,000 for prescribing narcotic substance without authority
A Hobart doctor has been fined $40,000 after being convicted of prescribing a narcotic substance without authority and issuing prescriptions for a restricted substance for more than two years. Clive Rohan Stack pleaded guilty to 34 charges under the Poisons Regulations 2018, including seven counts of prescribing a narcotic substance without authority and 27 charges of issuing a prescription for a restricted substance for an unauthorised purpose. The court heard in 2015, Stack — who was 54 years old — helped develop a topical treatment for patients to treat pain. At the time, Stack ran the Mount Nelson Medical Centre and worked at the Calvary Lenah Valley Hospital emergency department. "The topical treatment contained a range of medications that are considered controlled drugs … including benzodiazepines," Letitia Fox from the Department of Public Prosecutions said. The court heard during 2020 and 2021, multiple prescriptions for controlled substances were written out by Stack labelled "for lab use" and filled at a local pharmacy. Another topical treatment — containing ketamine, which has hallucinogenic properties — was also developed and administered to three patients for treatment by Stack, the court heard. In 2022, the Mount Nelson Medical Centre was raided by Tasmania Police after a tip-off by the Pharmaceutical Services Branch. Medication, computers and medical records were all confiscated. "Dr Stack ignored requirements despite being an experienced practitioner of almost 30 years, requirements he should have and indicated he was well aware of," Ms Fox said. "He engaged in a risky endeavour. "There was a real danger to the community if restricted drugs are supplied or prescribed in that they can be misused, they can be diverted, and particularly opioid-based substances and benzodiazepines carry a risk of serious injury or death if misused or overused." Defence lawyer for Stack, Fabiano Cangelosi, told the court his client is well regarded in the medical industry and was trying to help his patients who were experiencing severe and complex pain conditions. "The patient was receiving treatment with less of the addictive substance than they otherwise would get by way of a method of administration that essentially reduced the risk of misuse of the drug to nil. "And most importantly, it was ethicatious. The program that he ran was essentially a meta-analysis of how the medication faired … and it was effective in over 80 per cent of the patients that were being treated. "So that is what he was attempting to do. "Dr Stack has not practised since these charges arose. He's essentially been without an income." In sentencing, Magistrate Chris Webster said, "he's obviously well regarded as a doctor". "I accept that he might have had a noble purpose, in that what he was trying to do was discover or find a system to help patients in a difficult area," he said. "However, its a serious breach of the regulations. He should have known — and did know in fact — that these were Schedule 8 drugs and required authority for the use of them in the manner to which he used them. "His approach was somewhat lackadaisical to the dealing of serious drugs. Mr Cangelosi asked for a conviction to not be recorded, but the request was denied. Stack was fined $40,000 and ordered to pay $80.22 in court costs.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh man sentenced in drug ring that stretched into Beaver County
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has announced the ringleader of a Pittsburgh-based drug-trafficking organization has been sentenced to 9 to 18 years in prison for distributing controlled substances in Beaver and Allegheny counties. Dennis Alexander, 29, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of possession with intent to deliver, one count of person not to possess a firearm, and receiving stolen property. Alexander was living in Pittsburgh while selling heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone, methamphetamine, and marijuana in multiple counties, according to a release from Sunday's office. When agents executed a search warrant, they found drugs and a firearm, which Alexander was prohibited from having. 'The defendant pushed a variety of poisons into western Pennsylvania, valuing financial profits over the harm he caused to people and communities,' Sunday said. 'He has had multiple opportunities to reform his criminal behavior, and this sentence reflects the danger his actions bring to our communities.' The charges resulted from a lengthy investigation by the Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, which was assisted by the Beaver County Task Force, New Brighton Police Department, and City of Pittsburgh Police Department. Alexander, or one of his associates, sold controlled substances to a confidential informant or an undercover officer on a dozen occasions, authorities said. Alexander has two prior felony drug convictions in Pennsylvania, dating back to July 2016 and February 2017 Senior Deputy Attorney General Kara Cotter prosecuted the case. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Man sentenced in drug ring that stretched into Beaver County Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
28-07-2025
- CTV News
Innisfil police seize cocaine, imitation guns, pills and wad of cash after spring drug probe
Two men have been arrested in Innisfil, Ont., following a months-long police investigation that began earlier this spring. (SSPS) Two men have been arrested in Innisfil following a months-long police investigation that began earlier this spring. According to South Simcoe Police, the street crime unit launched an investigation under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act a few months back. On Thursday, officers executed search warrants at two homes and one vehicle, with two additional vehicles still awaiting search in connection to the case. During the search, police say they seized several packages of suspected cocaine and crack cocaine weighing a total of seven ounces, along with half an ounce of red, blue, and brown fentanyl, 39 oxycodone pills, more than $10,000 in cash, and a variety drug trafficking paraphernalia. Police also say they recovered several legally owned firearms, imitation guns, and other weapons. A 47-year-old and a 50-year-old from Innisfil are now facing charges including; trafficking in a controlled substance x 3 (suspected cocaine, fentanyl, oxycodone), possession for the purpose of trafficking x 3 along with a handful of other offences.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
Four Pensacola women federally charged in $14.6 billion nationwide healthcare scheme
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced June 30 that four Pensacola women were indicted with charges related to illegal drug diversion to defraud medical programs. U.S. Attorney John Heekin announced charges against 31-year-old Alexandra Christensen, 41-year-old Lindsay McCray, 36-year-old Heather Bradley and 39-year-old Jennifer Purves. "As alleged in the indictment, between 2015 and 2024, McCray, while employed by a medical practice, forged controlled substance prescriptions using the names, signatures and Drug Enforcement Administration registration numbers of the practice's two physicians without their knowledge or authorization," a release said. As a result of the conspiracy, McCray, Christensen and others allegedly contributed to the unlawful distribution of over 300,000 hydrocodone pills and over 30,000 oxycodone pills. McCray is further charged with distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of amphetamine with Bradley and Purves. Christensen and McCray are charged with conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, while McCray, Bradley and Purves are charged with distribution of controlled substances. McCray is also charged with identity theft in connection to diverted oxycodone, hydrocodone and amphetamine. Trial for all four defendants is scheduled for Aug. 15. McCray faces up to 80 years in federal prison while Christensen, Bradley and Purves face up to 20 years. Heekin says the arrest of the four defendants are part of a nationwide law enforcement action that has resulted in the arrest of 324 people for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. "The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets," the release said. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola women charged in nationwide healthcare fraud scheme
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
Four Pensacola women federally charged in $14.6 billion nationwide healthcare scheme
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced June 30 that four Pensacola women were indicted with charges related to illegal drug diversion to defraud medical programs. U.S. Attorney John Heekin announced charges against 31-year-old Alexandra Christensen, 41-year-old Lindsay McCray, 36-year-old Heather Bradley and 39-year-old Jennifer Purves. "As alleged in the indictment, between 2015 and 2024, McCray, while employed by a medical practice, forged controlled substance prescriptions using the names, signatures and Drug Enforcement Administration registration numbers of the practice's two physicians without their knowledge or authorization," a release said. As a result of the conspiracy, McCray, Christensen and others allegedly contributed to the unlawful distribution of over 300,000 hydrocodone pills and over 30,000 oxycodone pills. McCray is further charged with distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of amphetamine with Bradley and Purves. Christensen and McCray are charged with conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, while McCray, Bradley and Purves are charged with distribution of controlled substances. McCray is also charged with identity theft in connection to diverted oxycodone, hydrocodone and amphetamine. Trial for all four defendants is scheduled for Aug. 15. McCray faces up to 80 years in federal prison while Christensen, Bradley and Purves face up to 20 years. Heekin says the arrest of the four defendants are part of a nationwide law enforcement action that has resulted in the arrest of 324 people for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. "The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets," the release said. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola women charged in nationwide healthcare fraud scheme
