Former Port Huron Pharmacist Indicted For Fraudulently Obtaining Powerful Painkillers

A former pharmacist was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with fraudulently obtaining controlled substances, including opioids, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today.

Schneider was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Field Division.

Charged in the indictment is Kyle Wilhelm 40, Marysville.

According to the indictment, between February 2015 and February 2018, Wilhelm utilized his position as a hospital pharmacy manager to fill prescriptions for fictitious patients using false birthdates, false addresses, and by the unauthorized use of a medical doctor’s DEA registration number. Wilhelm exploited his knowledge of his employer’s internal controls to obtain controlled substances, which would go unnoticed during audits. He failed to compensate his employer for more than $35,000 in controlled substances he fraudulently obtained. In total, he obtained more than 200,000 dosage units of controlled substances such as oxycodone, hydromorphone, and hydrocodone acetaminophen.    

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted of a drug charges alleged in the indictment, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of imprisonment of eight years, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Ross