Doctor faces prison in drug scam

[lexifer]

By Teresa Stepzinski, The Times-Union

BRUNSWICK - A former Wayne County physician will be sentenced Friday for conspiring to illegally distribute prescription drugs over the Internet in an operation reaping almost $1.8 million over a two-year period.
William "Bill" McArthur III, 38, of Jesup faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine, a plea agreement showed.
McArthur didn't seek renewal of his Georgia medical license, which expired Dec. 31, according to state records.
He has been free on bail pending sentencing since pleading guilty Jan. 11 to the conspiracy charge.
During his plea hearing, McArthur appeared remorseful as he admitted to participating in an online pharmacy scheme that also involved his father, William "Frank" McArthur Jr. of Cleveland, Miss., and podiatrist Salvatore DeFrank of Plano, Texas.
The elder McArthur and DeFrank have also pleaded guilty to federal charges in the case and are awaiting sentencing in Dallas, where the case originated.
Frank McArthur pleaded guilty Dec. 7 to single federal counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering, court records show.
He will be sentenced May 9. Frank McArthur faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the money laundering charge and up to five years on the drug conspiracy, according to court records.
Frank McArthur also faces potential federal fines totalling $750,000 in the case, the records show.
DeFrank pleaded guilty Oct. 25 to a single count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, but no sentencing date has been set, according to court records.
A federal investigation showed the McArthurs operated a call center, based in Cleveland, Miss., from the fall of 2003 through September 2005 that approved prescription drug orders for nationwide Internet customers of discount pharmacies.
The McArthurs received $1,798,124 in payments during that period as a result of the scheme, court documents showed.
Bill McArthur approved the drug orders - most for the powerful painkiller hydrocodone - without ever examining the patients, and no medical follow-up was done, the investigation showed.
The government will dismiss a related charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering against Bill McArthur, according to the plea agreement.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-onlin...65776772.shtml

[Alfa]

Originally Posted by lexifer

without ever examining the patients, and no medical follow-up was done

That about defines what breaches the law with internet pharmacies that sell to the USA.