News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 13, 2012
Contact: Will Taylor
Number: 312-886-2597

Dentist Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Dispensing of Oxycodone
Three year sentence for diverting controlled substances

MADISON, Wis. – John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Edward McGrath, 36, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to three years in prison for illegally acquiring and dispensing oxycodone. This prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. On October 13, 201,1 McGrath pled guilty to these charges.

McGrath was a dentist in the Wisconsin Rapids area. According to the plea agreement, from April 2009 through April 2010, McGrath wrote approximately 207 prescriptions to obtain controlled substances for himself. He diverted the controlled substances in a number of different ways, involving 17 different people in his scheme. Below are some of the ways McGrath diverted controlled substance:

• The person to whom McGrath wrote the prescription gave a portion of the pills obtained to McGrath and was allowed to keep the other half of the pills obtained for his or her own use.

• McGrath performed free dental work in exchange for the patient filling prescriptions and providing the prescribed drugs to McGrath.

• McGrath wrote prescriptions for family members who did not need medication. McGrath would pick up the prescriptions and use the drugs himself.

• McGrath wrote prescriptions for another dentist with a drug problem and the other dentist would write prescriptions for McGrath.

• McGrath wrote prescriptions and paid people cash to fill them.

The charges against McGrath were the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Wood County Sheriff's Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

Parents and their children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of legal pharmaceutical drugs and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.