Houston doctor sentenced in narcotics distribution case

Doctor worked with pharmacist in scheme, DOJ says

(John Moore/Getty Images)

HOUSTON – A Houston doctor has been ordered to federal prison for distributing large amounts of oxycodone and hydrocodone, the Department of Justice said.

Richard Arthur Evans, 72, was convicted by a federal jury on July 27 on all 19 charges.

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The DOJ said evidence presented at the case included testimony of former patients who said they drove hours to get prescriptions for oxycodone and other drugs from Evans. Other evidence showed Evans met patients from clinics -- Winrock Clinic and New Haven Clinic -- after hours to provide prescriptions to them.

Evans and his co-defendant, David Devido, a pharmacist, worked together, the DOJ said, adding that Evans would write the prescriptions and Devido would fill them for patients from outside the state.

Some patients testified to lax procedures at the clinics and the ease with which they were able to get a prescription.

The DOJ said Evans would charge $200-$240 for an initial visit, which is when the patient could obtain the first prescription. While refills are not permitted for narcotics, the patients were told they could receive a new prescription in 30 days without an office visit if they sent a money order to Evans for $200-$240. They were able to do the same for a third prescription.

Once Evans received the payment, he and his staff would deliver the prescriptions to Devido at Briargrove Pharmacy, who would then send the drugs through the mail to patients in Louisiana and other states.
The DOJ said Evans and Devido dispensed about 1.6 million dosage units of oxycodone in a two-year period, totaling the money attributed in the scheme to $2.4 million.

Evans was convicted on one count of conspiracy, five counts of illegal distribution of narcotics, eight counts of mail fraud and five counts of money laundering.

Evans was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was additionally ordered to pay a $250,000 fine and forfeit $268,000 in assets.

The DOJ said Evans had previous surrendered his medical license.

Devido is set to be sentenced Tuesday.


About the Author:

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.