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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
May 1, 2008
RETIRED PHYSICIAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON IN INTERNET PHARMACY CASE
WICHITA, KAN. – A retired physician who owned a pharmacy that unlawfully distributed prescription drugs to Internet customers was sentenced Thursday to 33 months in federal prison.
Wilbur D. Hilst, 76, Wewoka, Okla., pleaded guilty in December 2007 to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.
In his plea, Hilst admitted that from Nov. 1, 2005, through March 21, 2006, he operated Red Mesa Pharmacy in Wichita. The pharmacy distributed controlled substances to customers who placed orders from two Web sites, Integra Rx and SafeTrustProcessing. The Web sites had contracted with various doctors around the country to approve online orders based upon customers’ answers to questions, but without actually seeing patients or examining them.
After Hilst completes his sentence, he will serve one year on supervised release. He agreed in his plea to forfeit $20,129 seized from his bank accounts. Co-defendants in the case Jerry Lovern and Robert Barron are awaiting sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren commended Patricia O’Malley, a diversion investigator for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst for their work on the case.
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