Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Jeffrey Todd Chenoweth, R. Ph., 40, of Newton, Illinois, was sentenced today on an indictment charging illegal distribution of Schedule II controlled substances Oxycodone and Hydromorphone and Schedule III controlled substance Hydrocodone. The offenses involved dispensing outside the course of professional practice to customers without a current valid prescription at the CVS Pharmacy in Newton, Illinois, where Chenoweth was employed as the pharmacist in charge. Licensed pharmacists are not permitted to dispense controlled substances “early” in the belief that a valid prescription will be obtained by the customer later. The Court imposed a sentence of 3 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years’ supervised release, a $900 fine and $300 special assessment. The Court also ordered that Chenoweth spend the first five months of supervised release in a residential reentry facility or “halfway house.” Chenoweth has surrendered his state pharmacist license.

This case was investigated by agents of the United States Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as part of the ongoing Project Dr. Feelgood investigations in the Southern District of Illinois. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Quinley.

 

 

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