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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Sept. 22 , 2009
WICHITA PHARMACIST SENTENCED FOR UNLAWFULLY DISPENSING MEDICATIONS
WICHITA, KAN. – Constance L. King, 47, a pharmacist who lives in Wichita, Kan., has been sentenced to two years probation for unlawful distribution of controlled substances., U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today. She also was ordered to pay an $11,000 fine.
In June 2009, King pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting the unlawful distribution of controlled substances. In her plea, King admitted she and co-defendant Dr. Lawrence Simons, a physician who lives in Goddard, Kan., unlawfully distributed controlled substances. King said that in March 2007 she learned Simons needed a car transported from Kansas City, Kan., to Wichita. She contacted a third party identified in court records as “Herb L” to ask if he would transport the car and store it at his lot. She said Dr. Simons was willing to pay for the service by issuing prescriptions to Herb L for controlled substances. Herb L agreed to accept that form of payment. Simons knew when she made the arrangement that Herb L was not a patient of Dr. Simons.
On March 17, 2007, King helped deliver prescriptions for Oxycontin and Lortab. The prescriptions were issued on prescription pads bearing the signature of Dr. Simons.
Simons is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 14, 2009. He pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully prescribing controlled substances.
Welch commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
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