Press Release
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Hawaii
PJKK Federal Building (808) 541-2850
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 6-100 FAX (808) 541-2958
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850
June 15, 2007
For Immediate Release
P R E S S R E L E A S E
A federal grand jury charged HAROLD C. SPEAR, III, M.D., 54, of Hanapepe, Hawaii, yesterday with 20 counts of distributing controlled substances "outside the usual course of professional practice" and "not for a legitimate medical purpose." Included in the indictment were charges previously made in the criminal complaint which resulted in SPEAR's arrest on June 1, 2007.
Ed Kubo, United States Attorney for Hawaii, said that the controlled substances are identified in the indictment as Oxycontin, Oxycodone, and Methadone. As one of the conditions of his release following his arrest, the defendant surrendered his federal license to prescribe controlled substances, which means he cannot legally prescribe drugs such as Oxycontin, Oxycodone, or Methadone unless he regains the license.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000 on each count.
U. S. Attorney Kubo cautioned that an indictment is merely an accusation, and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The indictment is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State of Hawaii Narcotics Enforcement Division, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being headed by Assistant United States Attorney William L. Shipley.
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