CINCINNATI, Ohio – Two men, Christopher Stegawski, 65, of Cleveland, and John Randy Callihan, 58, of Portsmouth, Ohio, have been sentenced for running ‘pill mills’ in the state.
According to court testimony, Stegawski and Callihan owned and/or operated a business initially known as Eastside Medical Specialist in Dayton, Ohio. The business moved to Lucasville, Ohio in February 2010 and was renamed Lucasville Medical Specialist. Stegawski took over the ownership of Lucasville Medical Specialist and listed Callihan as an employee.
Stegawski represented himself as a chronic pain management doctor at the clinics and an unnamed clinic located in Southpoint, Ohio. The clinics operated as ‘pill mills’ by selling prescriptions for controlled substances, primarily oxycodone, without a legitimate need for the prescriptions. There was no valid doctor-patient relationship and many of the prescriptions were openly sold and diverted.
Stegawski had a DEA registration number that allowed him to order controlled substances for the clinics. He received a medical degree in Warsaw, Poland in 1977 and was purportedly trained to specialize in anesthesiology. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has suspended and is pursuing permanent revocation of Stegawski’s license to practice medicine.
The clinics operated from November 2009 until May 2012. During this time, many local pharmacies refused to honor any prescriptions written by Stegawski due to the ‘large quantities of narcotics’ and his ‘catering to customers with prior drug abuse and arrest histories.’
A United States District Court jury convicted Stegawski in February of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense prescription drugs, one count of conspiracy to launder money and two counts of maintaining a place for illegal distribution of drugs.
Stegawski was sentenced yesterday to 160 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Callihan was sentenced today to 60 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
The cooperative investigation involved agents and officers from the IRS, Ohio Board of Pharmacy, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, DEA, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, and the Riverside Police Department.
Defendant: Christopher Stegawski
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to distribute and dispense prescription drugs, conspiracy to launder money, and maintaining a place for illegal distribution of drugs
City and State: CINCINNATI, Ohio
Exact Date: Yesterday and today
Sentence or Outcome: Stegawski – 160 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release, Callihan – 60 months in prison and five years of supervised release
Dollar Amounts: None mentioned
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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