Former physician sentenced for operating a pill mill

WICHITA, KAN. – A former Kansas physician was sentenced to 120 months in prison following a jury trial conviction and a plea agreement based on charges for selling opioid prescriptions to customers without legitimate medical need for powerful pain medications. 

According to court documents, Steven R. Henson, 63, of Wichita pleaded guilty to:

•    two counts of conspiracy to dispense, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances,
•    eight counts of dispensing and aiding and abetting with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances,
•    five counts of dispensing controlled substances, and 
•    six counts of money laundering.

A jury previously convicted Henson of one count of making a false writing and one count of attempting to obstruct a court order, which were charges in relation to drug offenses.

Between July 2014 and August 2015, Henson admits to examining illegitimate pain patients at his clinic in Wichita and writing them prescriptions for oxycodone, methadone, and alprazolam in exchange for cash. He would typically meet his co-conspirator customers during non- business hours without staff present and charge $300 for the visit. These co-conspirator customers told Henson which controlled substances they wanted, and he would oblige with a prescription without conducting examinations, obtaining medical history, or determining if the requested medication was needed. Henson would often prescribe the highest possible strengths and high pill counts.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad, Newton Police Department, Wichita Police Department, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katie Andrusak and Jason Hart prosecuted the case.

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