Former Bridgeport, WV mayor sentenced to 3 years for prescription painkiller trafficking

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Licensed pharmacist and former mayor of Bridgeport, West Virginia, Mario Blount, 52, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for unlawfully distributing prescription painkillers, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

An investigation by the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, revealed that Blount repeatedly distributed prescription painkillers, including oxycodone and oxymorphone, outside the scope of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose. In June 2013, he failed to report filling a prescription for 150 oxymorphone pills. In September 2013, he distributed oxymorphone pills without a physician’s prescription.

Blount pled guilty in September 2014 to a criminal Information charging him with one count of “Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Schedule II Controlled Substances,” one count of “False or Fraudulent Material Omission,” and one count of “Distribution of Oxymorphone.”

As part of the sentenced issued today, Blount will also be required to forfeit his interest in $15,000.00 in U.S. currency.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parr and U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.