Southern District of West Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Cabell County Doctor Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
Doctor’s prescribing practices connected to numerous deaths; sentence is four times the maximum recommended by federal guidelines
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –United States Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that a Cabell County doctor was sentenced to two years in prison for violating federal drug control laws. Dr. Anita Dawson, 55, of Milton, W.Va., previously pleaded guilty in July to aiding and abetting the illegal acquisition of prescription drugs by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge. The sentence is four times the maximum sentence recommended under federal sentencing guidelines, which called for a sentence of zero to six months.
Dawson admitted that from July 2006 until May 21, 2009, she wrote prescriptions for addictive pain medications to an individual identified by the initials E.B. Dawson admitted she prescribed a total of nearly 6,000 pills containing oxycodone and more than 220 pills for the painkiller Endocet. Dawson further admitted that at the time she wrote the prescriptions for E.B., she knew that the patient was seeking pain medication for an addiction and other inappropriate reasons.
Dawson and E.B. entered into a pain management agreement that required the patient to submit to drug tests and pill counts. Despite E.B.’s repeated violations of the pain management agreement, Dawson admitted she continued to prescribe pain medication.
At today’s sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers heard from family members of three people killed in 2009 when their vehicle was hit by another vehicle driven by a patient of Dawson’s. The patient was addicted to prescription drugs and was under the influence of prescription medication at the time of the crash. In imposing Dawson’s sentence, Judge Chambers also noted that nine other patients of Dawson’s had died of prescription drug overdoses.
“It’s hard to put into words the devastating impact of this defendant’s crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Goodwin. “My heart goes out to the families who spoke at today’s hearing and to everyone who lost a loved one because of Dr. Dawson. Judge Chambers was right: This woman’s behavior is shocking, and this case should send a message to other doctors who abuse their prescription power.”
“The vast majority of physicians prescribe responsibly,” Goodwin continued, “but even a handful of bad doctors can flood our communities with illegal pills. Every time we put a law-breaking doctor out of business, it’s a big step toward getting this problem under control.”
In sentencing Dawson, Judge Chambers said that doctors who violate prescription laws need to be held accountable for their role in the “horrible problem” of prescription drug abuse. Judge Chambers said he intended the sentence to send a warning to doctors that they will be held accountable for their prescribing practices.
Dawson’s medical license was suspended by the West Virginia Board of Osteopathy in April 2010, on the same day federal and state investigators executed a search warrant at her Milton office. Following the search and the suspension of her medical license, Dawson voluntarily gave up her license permanently.
This case was prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down illegal pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers in communities across the Southern District.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the West Virginia State Police and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Loew handled the prosecution.
Multifest Executive Pleads Guilty to Federal Income Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Starks admitted to stealing more than $300,000 from the Charleston-based organization
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today that a Charleston festival executive director pleaded guilty in federal court to income tax fraud. Deborah S. Starks, 55, of Cross Lanes, W.Va., admitted that she filed a false tax return in connection with an embezzlement scheme that drained more than $300,000 from MultiCultural Festival of WV, Inc. (“MultiFest”), a Charleston-based non-profit organization.
U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said, "Ms. Starks failed to report more than half a million dollars of income on her taxes. More than $300,000 of that unreported income was stolen by her from the charity that puts on Multifest each year.”
Goodwin continued, “Obviously $300,000 is a substantial amount of money to any company, but it's especially significant to a small business or charity. That's why my office has focused on investigating and prosecuting cases like these to protect such organizations and to send a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated in this district."
Starks was the treasurer of MultiFest at the time of the scheme. MultiFest sponsors a music, arts and crafts, and dance festival held annually in Charleston. As treasurer, Starks was in charge of revenue and expenses for MultiFest and maintained the organization’s bank accounts.
Starks admitted that beginning in or about 2005 and continuing until 2010, she embezzled approximately $306,000 from MultiFest. She also admitted additional unreported taxable income of approximately $200,000. Starks further admitted that she wrote personal checks to herself and to other people, withdrew cash in the form of checks, and made ATM transactions from MultiFest bank accounts during the scheme. Starks also admitted that the embezzled funds were used primarily to support her personal gambling activities.
In addition to the embezzlement scheme, the defendant admitted that she prepared, signed and filed a joint U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for each of the calendar years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and did not report the embezzled funds as income.
Starks has agreed to pay restitution to MultiFest in the amount of $306,872.04 and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the amount of $128,626.
Starks faces up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced on April 2, 2013 by United States District Judge John T. Cophenhaver, Jr.
This matter was investigated by the IRS. Assistant United States Attorney Eumi L. Choi is handling the prosecution.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia’s Small Business Protection Initiative. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced the Small Business Protection Initiative in November 2010. Small Business Protection is a key initiative of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia that focuses on the prosecution of individuals who defraud small West Virginia businesses located in the Southern District.
Three Parkersburg Residents Plead Guilty to Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Defendants admit to their roles in a Parkersburg crack cocaine distribution conspiracy
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that three Parkersburg residents pleaded guilty in connection with an illegal crack cocaine distribution conspiracy in Parkersburg, W.Va. Brandon Mykel Perdew, 21, Samuel Shae White, 25 and Sarah Nichole Miller, 21, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine.
Perdew and Miller admitted that no later than the summer of 2011 until April 2012, they were involved in distributing crack cocaine in and around Wood County, W.Va. Perdew obtained the crack cocaine from Columbus, Ohio. Perdew and Miller admitted that during the scheme, they made trips to Columbus to obtain the illegal drugs where they distributed it in and around Parkersburg or provided it to other sellers including Samuel White to distribute in and around Parkersburg. White admitted joining the conspiracy in January 2012.
On January 20, 2012, the Parkersburg Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force used a confidential informant to purchase 1.09 grams of crack cocaine from Perdew. On March 13, 2012, the Task Force used an informant to purchase 1.13 grams of crack cocaine from White. On April 16, 2012, law enforcement agents also used an informant to purchase a quantity of crack cocaine from Perdew. Each of the drug transactions occurred at 1330 Staunton Avenue in Parkersburg.
The defendants admitted that the Staunton Avenue residence was rented by Miller in November 2011 and used for storing and selling crack cocaine during the conspiracy.
Miller admitted that on March 8, 2012, she drove White to a residence located on Hill Street in Parkersburg where White sold approximately 1.77 grams of crack to an informant working with law enforcement agents. On April 18, 2012, law enforcement officers observed Miller drive away from the Staunton Avenue residence in a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. Officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle and seized approximately 59.4 grams of crack cocaine, two sets of digital scales, and a .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol that contained a loaded magazine with 12 rounds of ammunition.
Also on April 18, 2012, members of the Parkersburg Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant at the 113 Staunton Avenue residence and seized several items including a stolen M&P 15-22, .22 caliber semiautomatic rifle and a G&P WASR semiautomatic rifle. Agents arrested Perdew and White at the time the search warrant was executed. Perdew admitted that he had a key to the Staunton Avenue residence on his person and $1,005 in cash.
Perdew, White and Miller each face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine when they are sentenced on April 11, 2013 by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston.
This case was investigated by the Parkersburg Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is in charge of the prosecutions.