News Release
February 3, 2004

Tucson Doctor Jeri B. Hassman Pleads Guilty

Jan. 29 – Phoenix, Arizona – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Acting Special Agent in Charge, Anthony J. Coulson announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, announced that Jeri B. HASSMAN, M.D., 47 years old, of Tucson, Arizona, pled guilty on January 29, 2004 to a four count Information charging her with four counts of Accessory After the Fact in violation of Title 18 USC Section 3.

During the change of plea, Jeri B. HASSMAN M.D. admitted that on four occasions – April 23, 2001, July 28, 2001, August 3, 2001 and March 12, 2002, she assisted four individuals, both patients and non-patients, in order to hinder or prevent the apprehension, trial or punishment of those individuals, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section3, knowing the four individuals had committed an offense by unlawfully acquiring and obtaining Schedule II Controlled substances by misrepresentation or deception, a violation of Tile 21, United States Code, Section 843(a)(3). Those controlled substances were OxyContin and Methadone.

On November 1, 2002, the DEA revoked HASSMAN’s registration to handle Schedule II, III, IV and V Controlled Substances. She has voluntarily agreed to withdraw her administrative appeal of that decision.

As part of her plea agreement, HASSMAN has agreed to not apply for registration to handle substances for at least one year as well as not to participate in the government’s Tricare medical insurance program. She must also complete any court ordered community service and attend additional training in pain management and addiction treatment.

As a result of her guilty plea, HASSMAN faces statutory maximum penalties of up to eight (8) years of imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, or both. Defendant HASSMAN is schedule to be sentenced on April 8, 2004, by United States District Judge David C. Bury.

Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony J. Coulson remarked, “DEA will stand firm on its commitment to investigate and prosecute any medical practitioner who violates the laws of the United States when prescribing controlled substances other then for legitimate medical needs.”