St. Louis County Doctor Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining Opioid Narcotic Prescription Drugs

St. Louis, MO –Angela K. Williams, M.D., 34, of Florissant, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 18, 2018 on two felony charges of fraudulently obtaining narcotic opioid prescription drugs. 

According to the Indictment, Dr. Williams wanted to obtain prescription drugs that contained controlled substances for her own personal use, outside the bounds of professional medical practice and not for legitimate medical purposes.  Accordingly, Dr. Williams used her own prescription pad to write and sign numerous prescriptions for controlled substances using other persons’ names, including prescriptions for the narcotic opioid pain relief drugs hydrocodone and oxycodone.  Dr. Williams then went to the pharmacies and presented the prescriptions for the drugs, posing as a patient.  Dr. Williams also fraudulently used another doctor’s prescription pad, name, and Drug Enforcement Administration number to write herself some additional controlled substance prescriptions. 

If convicted, each charge carries a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge William Callahan stated “The purpose of the DEA’s Diversion Control Program is to maintain the integrity of the supply chain of prescription drugs to the American public.  The diversion of prescription drugs outside the bounds of professional medical practice puts the supply chain at risk and has the potential to jeopardize public safety.  The DEA will continue to closely work with our law enforcement partners to prevent the illegal distribution of prescription drugs.”

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florissant Police Department, the Town and Country Police Department, and the St. John Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Narcotic and Dangerous Drugs of the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services and the St. Louis County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.  

Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.