FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MONDAY - June 27, 2011

LITTLETON DRUG TRAFFICKER INDICTED

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that on June 21, 2011, a Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment against JAMES ARNOLD KING for his part in a scheme to dispense drugs unlawfully and defraud a health care system. The 41-count Indictment included charges of distributing and dispensing a Hydrocodone combination product without a prescription authorized by a practitioner, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) (Counts 1-8); distributing and dispensing a Hydrocodone combination product by utilizing DEA registrations that were issued to another person, Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(a)(2) (Counts 9-16); distributing and dispensing Phenobarbital without a prescription authorized by a practitioner, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) (Counts 17-19); distributing and dispensing Phenobarbital by utilizing DEA registrations that were issued to another person, Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(a)(2) (Counts 20-22); distributing and dispensing Butalbital without a prescription authorized by a practitioner, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) (Counts 23-31); distributing and dispensing Phenobarbital by utilizing DEA registrations that were issued to another person, Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(a)(2) (Counts 32-40); and aiding and abetting knowingly and intentionally executing a scheme to defraud a health care benefit program, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347.

The Indictment further lists dates, from February 24, 2006, through September 10, 2008, in which the offenses occurred. A Forfeiture Notice is also included in the Indictment which lists three parcels of real property located in Littleton, North Carolina.

KING, 68, faces up to five years’ imprisonment for each of counts 1-8 and 23-31; up to four years’ imprisonment for each of counts 9-16, 20-22 and 32-40; up to three years’ imprisonment for each of counts 17-19; and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for count 41.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Littleton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells is assigned the prosecution.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce