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Press Release

Norton Doctor Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Virginia
Dr. Raymond Moore Charged With Acquiring Drugs by Fraud, Failing to Maintain Records, Making False Statements

Abingdon, VIRGINIA – Dr. Raymond Michael Moore, a Norton-based, licensed, medical doctor, was arrested this morning and charged via federal criminal complaint with obtaining schedule II and schedule IV controlled substances by fraud or misrepresentation, failing to maintain proper records for schedule II and schedule IV controlled substances, and making false statements. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring made the announcement.

The criminal complaint charges Moore, 61, of Wise, Va., with one count of acquiring, obtaining, or possessing schedule II and schedule IV controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge, one count of failing to maintaining records for schedule II and schedule IV controlled substances received, delivered or shipped and one count of making false statements.

“It is critical that physicians and other health-care providers who prescribe controlled substances scrupulously follow the law and standards of care to ensure that these drugs are not diverted and abused,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today.  “When these medical professionals violate their Hippocratic oaths – and essentially act as drug dealers – we will use all available resources to send them to federal prison.”

“It’s so critical that we maintain tight controls over the supply of prescription drugs because opioid abuse and dependence often has its roots in the medicine cabinet with the misuse of prescription medications,” said Attorney General Herring.

“This is once again a prime example of why the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squads were formed throughout the nation,” said Jesse Fong Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Division Office. “We have no higher priority than investigating drug-dealing physicians and other corrupt health-care practitioners and putting them in federal prison. Doctor Moore flooded Southwestern Virginia, with his opioid prescriptions. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squads will relentlessly investigate and arrest these drug dealers disguised as doctors.”

According to documents filed with the court, beginning in July 2016 and continuing to January 2019, Moore intentionally, and without authority, acquired and possessed hydrocodone tablets, oxycodone-acetaminophen tablets, fentanyl transdermal system, meperidine tablets, Alprazolam tablets, Lorazepam tablets, clonazepam tablets, tramadol, and diazepam, through fraud, forgery or deception. The defendant also failed to maintain the required records for these controlled substances.

Search warrants executed at the home and medical offices of Moore revealed many of the same schedule II and schedule IV controlled substances were found at Moore’s home. The results of the search led investigators to conclude that Moore was unlawfully prescribing schedule II and schedule IV medication to patients in order for the same medication to be returned to Moore for personal ingestion. 

This case was brought by the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force. The investigation of the case was conducted by the Roanoke Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Virginia State Police, Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Norton Police Department, and Town of Wise Police Department assisted with the search warrant executions.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Virginia Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Unit, will prosecute the case for the United States.

A criminal complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Updated July 3, 2019

Topic
Prescription Drugs