News Release
January 19, 2006

Final Defendant in Oxycontin Ring Pleads Guilty During Trial

JAN 19 -- Shawn A. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Washington Division announced today that William Henry Muldrow, age 61, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and more than five grams of crack cocaine in connection with his participation in a statewide Oxycontin ring.

The federal jury trial began on January 17, 2006 before U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. Testimony was scheduled to continue today, but was halted when Muldrow decided to plead guilty to the conspiracy charge.

According to the statement of facts presented to the court at his guilty plea, from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2003, Muldrow and his co-conspirators created fraudulent prescriptions using computers and photocopiers. They then recruited people whom they called “runners” to submit these prescriptions at pharmacies throughout Maryland. The fraudulently obtained drugs were then resold on the street. Muldrow and the other members of this drug organization also used Medicaid health insurance cards to pay for some of the fraudulent prescriptions at pharmacies throughout Maryland. On the day of Muldrow’s arrest in the case, October 30, 2003, authorities seized a .22 caliber rifle, crack cocaine, and numerous documents relating to the fraudulent prescriptions from the defendant’s car.

Muldrow faces a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, a $2 million fine, and a mandatory term of 4 years on supervised release. Judge Williams scheduled the sentencing for March 29, 2006. Twelve other defendants in this case have previously pleaded guilty. The eleven defendants who have been sentenced received sentences of between 2 years and 13 years.