The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Thackerville Pharmacy and its owner, Nurse Practitioner Dana Sprott, have agreed to pay $115,000.00 to settle allegations they violated the federal Controlled Substances Act.
The Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma on August 29, 2022, alleged that Defendants Sprott and Thackerville Pharmacy used a rubber stamp of a doctor’s signature to prescribe drugs without that doctor’s knowledge or approval.
The Complaint was the result of a Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Unit investigation that determined at least 21 patients had prescriptions issued and filled without the knowledge of their doctor. The DEA also determined that some of the controlled substances were issued to Ms. Sprott’s family members, and controlled substances were impermissibly ordered for office inventory.
“I commend the DEA Diversion Unit for their investigative efforts to ensure that pharmacies and medical providers are legally and safely dispensing controlled drugs,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This settlement illustrates the continued dedication of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat illegal drug distribution within the Eastern District. Thackerville Pharmacy allegedly breached its duties under the Controlled Substance Act and this monetary settlement is a mechanism to hold the pharmacy and its owner accountable.”
“The DEA will not tolerate the willful disregard of the Controlled Substances Act, especially by those who have been entrusted with a DEA registration,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas. “Thackerville Pharmacy’s use of a rubber stamp to forge a doctor’s signature on controlled substance prescriptions is not only a violation of the Controlled Substances Act, it places the public’s health in danger. The rise of opioid use disorders is a reminder that DEA will remain committed to tirelessly and effectively fight the diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances across the country.”
Tips and complaints concerning potential violations of the federal narcotics laws can be reported to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s website at dea.gov/submit-tip.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael O’Malley and Joshua M. Mitts represented the United States.
Tags: False Records Fraud Healthcare Fraud Medically Unnecessary Nurse Practitioners Pharmacy Crime Rx Fraud