Nurse Practitioner Parker Sentenced in Pill Mill Case

Operating Room vet turned Nurse Practitioner Bridgette Parker faced federal prison time today after being sentenced to 20 months for her part in the Dr. Xiulu Ruan and Dr. John Patrick Couch pill mill operation.

Parker, who earned a Master’s degree in nursing, was employed by Physicians Pain Specialists of Alabama, co-owned and operated by Ruan and Couch. She was fired from Ruan’s practice in December 2012 but quickly rehired by Couch, where she conspired to prescribe dangerous Controlled Substances like fentanyl.

During the trial, Parker admitted she frequently saw patients alone without oversight and forged Couch’s signature on prescriptions. Evidence also surfaced that Parker was using drugs in the office and impaired while treating patients.

Despite her substantial assistance during the prosecution of Ruan and Couch, Parker received a sentence reduction for her role. Acting U.S. Attorney Steve Butler praised her cooperation, saying without it, she would serve more than 20 months.

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bret Hamilton emphasized the need for professionals to uphold their obligations, noting that Parker’s conviction is due to DEA’s dedication to accountability. FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Laskey echoed this, reinforcing the commitment to healthcare safety and effectiveness.

This case was investigated by DEA-Mobile and FBI-Mobile and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Bodnar and Deborah Griffin.