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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News releases are available at www.usdoj.gov/usao/ks/press.html

Contact: Jim Cross
PHONE: 316-269-6481
FAX:      316-269-6420

Oct. 5, 2009

PHYSICIAN PLEADS GUILTY TO UNLAWFUL PRESCRIBING

WICHITA, KAN. – Physician Lawrence M. Simons, 53, Goddard, Kan., has pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully prescribing narcotic painkillers, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

In his plea, Simons admitted that on Nov. 16, 2007, he signed two prescriptions for Fentanyl for a person identified as Crystal B. On Jan. 15, 2008, he signed two more prescriptions for Fentanyl for Crystal B. It is unlawful for a physician to prescribe controlled substances except for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of medial practice. Simons had never established a physician patient relationship with Crystal B. In fact, he had never met her.

Co-defendant Constance L. King is set for sentencing Oct. 19, 2009.

Simons is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 14, 2009. Welch commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.

 

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