Dublin Doctor Sentenced On Drug Diversion Charges

ROANOKE, VIRGINIA -- A former medical doctor from Dublin, Va., who in February was convicted on 172 criminal counts of diverting pain medication, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke.

Linda Sue Cheek, 64, of Dublin, Va., was indicted in May 2012 and charged with 86 counts of distributing scheduled controlled substances without holding a valid certificate of DEA Registration, 81 counts of using a DEA registration number issued to another person, five counts of using a DEA registration number which has been revoked or suspended and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premise.

Following an eight-day trial in February of this year in the United States District Court in Roanoke, a jury convicted the former doctor on 172 of the 173 counts leveled against her. Today in District Court, Cheek was sentenced to 33 months of federal incarceration. She was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $17,125.

            “Prescription drug abuse is an epidemic that is destroying lives and ruining too many Virginia communities,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “Despite losing her license to prescribe medicine, Dr. Cheek illegally fed the addiction of hundreds of patients while collecting their money.  The criminal prosecution of unethical medical professionals like Dr. Cheek is a central part of our comprehensive strategy to address the prescription drug crisis.   We must also continue to reduce demand and provide effective treatment if we are to have an impact on this public health emergency.”

Evidence presented at trial by Assistant United States Attorney Jennie L.M. Waering, determined that Cheek wrote prescriptions for controlled substances on her revoked DEA number and wrote prescriptions on a DEA number that belonged to another person.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Virginia State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Jennie L.M. Waering and Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney Vaso T. Doubles are prosecuting the case for the United States.