|
|
News
Release [print friendly page] Lexington Doctor, Office Assistant Charged with Fraud Related to Steroids
JUL 28 -- Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins and Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the DEA Atlanta Field Division (AFD), announced that Dr. Horace W. Bledsoe, Jr., age 58, of Lexington, and his medical office assistant, Amelia H. Beck, age 50, of Newberry, were charged in a three-count Indictment with obtaining testosterone by fraud, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(a)(3). Both formerly worked at the Lexington Medical Center in Gilbert. Federal investigators allege that between June 2008 and February 2009, the pair falsified records to indicate they were destroying unused amounts of synthetic testosterone, when in fact they were stealing it for Bledsoe’s personal use. The maximum penalty Bledsoe and Beck could receive is a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment for four years on each count. Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Unit, and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney Winston D. Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office for prosecution. Mr. Wilkins stated that the charges contained in this indictment are merely accusations, and that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. DEA’s SAC Benson encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com, www.dea.gov and www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com. ### |
