Physician And Office Manager Indicted On Alien Smuggling And Drug Conspiracy Charges

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Dr. Fred Joseph Turner (57, Sarasota) and Rosetta Valerie Cannata (58, Osprey) with conspiracy to unlawfully bring an alien into the United States, conspiracy to distribute and dispense hydromorphone and OxyContin not in the usual course of professional practice, and distributing and dispensing hydromorphone and OxyContin not in the usual course of professional practice. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the alien charge and up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the other charges. The indictment also notifies Turner that the United States intends to forfeit his license to practice medicine.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless,  and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Largo Police Department, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and the Florida Department of Health. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.