Federal Court Orders Kentwood Veterinarian To Pay $35,000 In Penalties And To Cease Dispensing Controlled Substances

          GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney entered a consent decree that orders Ronald E. Zylstra, D.V.M., to pay $35,000 in civil penalties, cease dispensing controlled substances for five years, and abide by other restrictions on his handling of controlled substances.  The consent decree resolves allegations in a complaint the United States filed against Dr. Zylstra for violating the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

          “Practitioners who dispense controlled substances must adhere to their recordkeeping obligations under federal law, which are critical to preventing and detecting diversion,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten.  “As we fight the opioid epidemic, my office will continue to work with DEA and other law enforcement agencies to combat this and other controlled-substance violations.”

          The United States’ complaint alleged that Dr. Zylstra, who owns and practices at Kentwood Veterinary Clinic, failed to meet multiple recordkeeping obligations. Most significantly, the complaint asserts that when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigators inspected Kentwood Veterinary Clinic, an audit revealed that over 41,000 opioid and benzodiazepine tablets were unaccounted for.  It also alleges that Dr. Zylstra failed to fulfill other recordkeeping obligations, including recording the receipt of Schedule II controlled substances and conducting an inventory of controlled substances at least every two years.

          The $35,000 civil penalty was negotiated based on Dr. Zylstra’s inability to pay a larger amount. In addition to this penalty and the five-year prohibition on dispensing controlled substances, the consent decree limits to whom he can prescribe, restricts which controlled substances he can order and administer during procedures, and subjects him to increased DEA monitoring for five years.

          “DEA is committed to ensuring registrants adhere to the laws set forth in the Controlled Substance Act, to include recordkeeping – an integral step in preventing the diversion of controlled substances,” said Orville Green, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of DEA. “When medical professionals fail to comply with these laws, it puts our communities and lives at risk. We will continue to work with our regulatory partners to hold registrants accountable and ensure West Michigan communities remain healthy and safe.”

          The resolution obtained in this case was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan and the DEA.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whitney M. Schnurr and Andrew J. Hull handled this case.

          The complaint and consent decree in this case can be found on the Court’s online docket under United States v. Ronald E. Zylstra, D.V.M., No. 1:24-cv-00963 (W.D. Mich.).

          The claims resolved by the consent decree are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

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