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
For Immediate Release
Contact: Elliot Enoki
June 19, 2008
HONOLULU PHYSICIAN GUILTY OF ILLEGAL DRUG DISTRIBUTION
A federal jury today found Dr. Barry Odegaard, age 56, a resident of Honolulu, guilty of five of 13 charges of distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional medical practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Dr. Odegaard was acquitted on the remaining eight counts. The verdicts followed a six-day trial before United States District Judge David A. Ezra.
Edward H. Kubo, Jr., United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said that according to information produced at the trial, during an investigation into Dr. Odegaard initiated in 2004, an individual cooperating with law enforcement and others portrayed themselves as patients in meetings with Dr. Odegaard to determine under what circumstances he would prescribe controlled substances. The jury found that in five instances Dr. Odegaard prescribed the controlled substance Oxycontin to the cooperating individual illegally.
The defendant faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million for each count of conviction when he is sentenced by Judge Ezra on October 14, 2008.
The case was investigated by agents and officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Honolulu Police Department, and the Department of Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan M. F. Loo handled the prosecution.
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