Potomac Doctor Indicted For Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                                 at (410) 209-4885

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Dr. William Samuel Vaughn, III, a/k/a “Skip,”, age 62, of Largo, Maryland, today on charges of Distribution and Dispensation and Causing and Attempting to Cause the Distribution and Dispensation of Controlled Dangerous Substances. The indictment was returned on November 29, 2017 and unsealed today upon the arrest of the Vaughn.

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.

According to the 66-count indictment, between January 2014 and June 2017 Vaughn was a physician who practiced out of an urgent care center located in Potomac, Maryland. During this time he prescribed four individuals 3,210 20 mg and 30 mg Amphetamine (Adderall) pills outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.

Amphetamine is a stimulant and a Schedule II controlled substance. Amphetamine is commonly used for the treatment of attention deficit disorder, and is available in generic form and under the brand name Adderall.

"Today's indictment and arrest exposes Vaughn's lack of concern for the true health of his patients," FBI Special Agent-in-Charge of the Baltimore Field Office Gordon B. Johnson said. "Vaughn violated his privilege and authority to prescribe controlled drugs lawfully by putting his own personal gain ahead of his patients' health and well-being. When trusted doctors fail, the FBI and our partners are going to hold them accountable."

“Any physician who ignores the health and wellbeing of his patients and illegally prescribes narcotics to members of our community who are struggling with addiction is no better than a drug dealer selling from a street corner.  Hopefully, this 66 count indictment will serve notice to the members of the medical profession and citizens of Montgomery County that we will aggressively pursue anyone, including a doctor, who is involved in the illegal distribution of drugs in our community," said Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.

Vaughn faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervised release.  An initial appearance has been scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt today.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI and Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kelly O’Connell Hayes who is prosecuting the case.