Related Federal Cases
- Tyrone D. Trumbo Jr., Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Kentucky 2023 · North Carolina
- George Kudmani, Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substances, Kentucky 2017 · Kentucky
- Christopher Steward, Prescription Pill Scheme, Kentucky 2024 · North Carolina
- George Kudmani, Unlawfully Distributing Controlled Substances and Health Care Fraud, Kentucky 2017 · Indiana
- Dr. Terence Sasaki, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Ohio 2023 · Kentucky
Dr. Christopher Steward, Illegally Dispensing Controlled Substances, Kentucky 2016
In a shocking case of medical malfeasance, Dr. Christopher Steward, a dentist and nurse practitioner from Cave City, Kentucky, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for obtaining controlled substances through fraud for his own use. The 18-month prison sentence was handed down by District Judge Greg N. Stivers in United States District Court.
According to the plea agreement, Dr. Steward conspired with patients to acquire possession of Schedule II and Schedule IV controlled substances through misrepresentation and fraud, outside the course of medical practice, in order to distribute and/or acquire possession of prescription pills, mostly for his own use. This illicit activity took place between March 6, 2015, and June 6, 2015.
Furthermore, Dr. Steward admitted to willfully executing a scheme to defraud Kentucky Medicaid, a health care benefit program, in connection with the delivery of payment for health care benefits. This scheme involved writing a prescription for alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, for a patient without their knowledge or consent. The prescription was subsequently filled by someone other than the patient, again without their knowledge or consent, and Dr. Steward obtained those pills. This fraudulent prescription was paid for by Kentucky Medicaid, through Coventry Managed Care.
Dr. Steward was arrested on April 13, 2016, and made an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl in Bowling Green. He was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond.
At the time of sentencing, the United States moved for dismissal of Count 8 of the Indictment (identity theft) and agreed that a sentencing range between 18 months of imprisonment and 30 months of imprisonment was the appropriate disposition of this case. Dr. Steward also agreed to forfeit property located at 212 Broadway Street in Cave City, Kentucky, and a 2009 Ford F-150 white pickup truck.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Weiser and resulted from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Kentucky State Police.
Defendant: Dr. Christopher Steward
Criminal Charges: Obtaining controlled substances by fraud, distributing and dispensing controlled substances outside the course of professional medical practice, and health care fraud
City and State: Cave City, Kentucky
Exact Date: March 6, 2015, to June 6, 2015 (crime date), April 13, 2016 (arrest date), and October 27, 2022 (sentencing date)
Sentence or Outcome: 18 months in prison
Dollar Amounts: $25,000 unsecured bond
Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News