Smyrna, Georgia – In a shocking case of medical malpractice, Dr. Keith Jeffords has agreed to pay $100,000 in penalties and refrain from applying for a DEA registration for a period of five years to resolve allegations that he issued prescriptions for controlled substances while his medical license was suspended by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
The CSA requirements are designed to prevent the diversion of controlled substances and ensure that controlled substances are dispensed and prescribed by authorized individuals. Prior to agreeing that he would not hold a registration for a period of five years, Dr. Jeffords voluntarily surrendered his registration to the DEA.
“A suspended medical license means that a doctor cannot write prescriptions for controlled substances, period,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “When physicians ignore this basic requirement of the Controlled Substances Act, our office will vigorously pursue the violations.”
Dr. Jeffords operates a plastic surgery practice in Smyrna, Georgia. Jeffords wrote prescriptions for powerful opioids after the Medical Board summarily suspended his license on November 22, 2021. As part of the settlement, Jeffords acknowledged that he distributed controlled substances in violation of the CSA and its implementing regulations.
The CSA was enacted by Congress to deter the illegal importation, manufacture, distribution, possession, and improper use of controlled substances, including prescription medications. The CSA prohibits DEA registrants without a valid state medical license from issuing prescriptions for controlled substances. DEA registrants who issue prescriptions without a valid medical license are subject to civil monetary penalties for each violation.
Keith Jeffords, M.D. (Defendant/respondent REAL full name), Exact criminal charges: Issuing prescriptions for controlled substances while his medical license was suspended, City and state: Smyrna, Georgia, Exact date: prior to November 22, 2021, Sentence or outcome: Paid $100,000 in penalties and surrendered DEA registration for five years.
The civil settlement was reached by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin Hall and Adam Nugent. For further information, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmail@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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