Reno Doctor Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Involuntary Manslaughter Of Patient And Unlawful Distribution Of Large Quantities Of Prescription Drugs

RENO, Nev. – Dr. Robert Gene Rand, a Reno physician who operated Rand Family Care, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter of a patient and unlawful distribution of oxycodone, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Rand, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du. In addition to the prison term, Rand was ordered to pay $11,960 in restitution and a $25,000 fine. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

According to the plea agreement, Rand admitted that he acted with gross negligence by prescribing an excessive amount of oxycodone to a patient in reckless regard for the patient’s life. Despite warnings by another doctor and the patient’s mother, the patient’s history and the patient being hospitalized, Rand continued to prescribe oxycodone to the patient which lead to the patient’s overdose and death in October 2015. Rand also admitted that, from March 2011 to April 2016, he prescribed a total of 23,645 oxycodone 30 mg pills without a legitimate medical purpose to a second patient. In addition to oxycodone, Rand prescribed the second patient Percocet, hydrocodone, fentanyl, as well as other substances, such as carisoprodol and alprazolam. The second patient did not undergo any toxicology tests and Rand allowed another person to pick-up the oxycodone prescriptions for the patient. Rand also warned the patient at one time that his prescriptions would no longer be filled by the pharmacies.

Rand and eight others, including Richard Winston West II, aka “Richie West,” the former manager of the Jones-West Ford dealership, were indicted on May 11, 2016, with federal prescription drug distribution charges. Co-defendants West, 40; Omar Ahsan Ahmad, 32; Joshua Ross Green, 34; Clint Mitchell Bloodworth, 41; Kathleen Griffin, 43; Alan Russel Martinez, 61; and Braden Kyle Riley, 40, all of Reno; and Ryan Daniel Smith, 40, of Carson City, all have pleaded guilty for their involvement in the prescription drug conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Enforcement, Reno Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Susanville, California Police Department, Nevada Department of Corrections, Nevada Gaming Control, Nevada Department of Public Safety, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the State of Nevada Division of Welfare, Office of Investigations and Recovery. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Keller.

Nearly two million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Overdoses involving opioids killed more than 28,000 people in 2014, and over one-half of those deaths were from prescription opioids. In 2016, more than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses including illicit drugs and prescription opioids - nearly double in a decade. For information on opioid overdose and how someone can manage pain without prescription drugs, go to http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/index.html.

If you have a tip or information about illegal sales or distribution of prescription opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc., by doctors and pharmacies call the DEA at 1-877-RX-Abuse (1-877-792-2873).

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