Scotty Akers, Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substances, Kentucky 2020

Dr. Scotty Akers, 48, and his wife Serissa Akers, 33, both of Pikeville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to unlawfully distributing opioids and controlled substances under the guise of a medical practice that never existed. The so-called doctor and his office assistant admitted to operating a prescription mill out of parking lots, swapping cash for unnecessary opioid scripts—no exam, no records, no legitimacy.

Federal prosecutors revealed that the Akers couple used Facebook Messenger to arrange illicit drug deals, with Serissa Akers handing off prescriptions written by her husband in exchange for cash in public parking lots across Pikeville. Not a single physical examination was performed. They kept no patient files, ignored refill safeguards, and pushed early refills—knowingly fueling addiction and diversion. Their operation ran full throttle even after investigators closed in—only stopping when Scotty Akers’s medical license was finally suspended.

As part of the plea agreement, Scotty Akers faces a $12,275 money judgment. Sentencing is set for November 20, 2020. Both are charged with unlawful distribution of controlled substances, a federal crime carrying steep penalties, especially when committed under the shield of a medical license.

“The unlawful distribution of opioids by medical professionals is unacceptable,” stated U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. of the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute these important cases.” The message is clear: doctors who exploit patients for profit will be hunted down and held accountable.

The case was investigated by HHS-OIG, DEA, and the Kentucky Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Prosecuted by Assistant Chief Katherine E. Payerle, Trial Attorney Dermot Lynch, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Smith, it’s one of more than 70 cases brought by the ARPO Strike Force since its launch in October 2018. That task force has dismantled networks responsible for distributing some 50 million pills across Appalachia.

The Akers’ scheme is a textbook example of how opioid traffickers hide behind white coats. But the ARPO Strike Force, a joint operation rooted in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee, is cutting through the deception. With 30 guilty pleas already secured, they’re sending a warning: in the heart of Appalachia, there’s no hiding from justice.

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