Christopher Bateman Slater, Prescription Opiate Distribution, Oklahoma 2018

Physician Sentenced for Prescription Opiate Distribution

OKLAHOMA CITY – A physician from Guymon, Oklahoma, has been sentenced for distributing prescription opiates without a medical purpose. Christopher Bateman Slater, M.D., pleaded guilty to the crime and was fined $100,000, in addition to serving an eight-month prison term.

According to court records, Slater distributed codeine to patients without a legitimate medical purpose. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma collected $100,000 from Slater as part of the case.

The collection efforts were part of a larger effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to recover money for victims of crime and for taxpayers. In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, the office collected $10,624,311, exceeding the cost of operating the office by more than two million dollars.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma collected $7,994,284.09 through collection efforts in criminal and civil cases. Of this amount, $3,062,214.10 was collected in criminal actions and $4,932,069.99 was collected in civil actions. The office also deposited $2,630,027 into the Asset Forfeiture Fund as a result of criminal, civil, and administrative forfeiture proceedings.

The collection efforts were part of a larger effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to recover money for victims of crime and for taxpayers. In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, the office collected $10,624,311, exceeding the cost of operating the office by more than two million dollars.

Among civil cases, the office collected $670,000 from Southwest Orthopaedic Specialists, PLLC, and physicians who owned that company. In July 2018, Southwest Orthopaedic Specialists settled allegations that it submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare, which are health-care programs funded in whole or in part by the federal government.

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/us-attorney-s-office-collects-over-10000000-fiscal-year-2018