BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Dr. Christopher Steward, a dentist from Cave City, Kentucky, is trading his drill for a cell after receiving an 18-month prison sentence today for a brazen scheme involving illegally obtained prescription pills and healthcare fraud. U.S. District Judge Greg N. Stivers handed down the sentence after Steward admitted to years of abusing his position and defrauding both patients and the Kentucky Medicaid system.
The 50-year-old Steward, who operated a practice at 212 Broadway in Cave City, possessed a valid Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration – a license he exploited to fuel his addiction. Between March 6, 2015, and June 6, 2015, Steward conspired with patients, using misrepresentation and outright fraud, to acquire Schedule II and Schedule IV controlled substances. These weren’t prescribed for legitimate medical need, but rather to feed Steward’s own growing appetite for prescription pills.
The depth of his deception extended beyond simple self-medication. On June 6, 2015, Steward went so far as to forge a prescription for alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, in the name of a patient *without their knowledge or consent*. That prescription was filled by an unknown individual, again without the patient’s awareness, and the pills ended up in Steward’s possession. Kentucky Medicaid, via Coventry Managed Care, footed the bill for this fraudulent act.
Federal investigators with the FBI and Kentucky State Police first arrested Steward on April 13, 2016, following an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl. He was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond pending trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weiser successfully prosecuted the case, securing a plea agreement that saw the dismissal of an identity theft charge (Count 8 of the Indictment) in exchange for a sentencing range of 18 to 30 months.
As part of the agreement, Steward will forfeit his practice location at 212 Broadway Street in Cave City, Kentucky, and a 2009 white Ford F-150 pickup truck. This isn’t just about punishment; it’s about stripping away the tools he used to operate his illicit operation. U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. stated the sentence sends a clear message: abusing a position of trust for personal gain will not be tolerated.
This case serves as a grim reminder that the opioid crisis isn’t just about street dealers. It’s also about professionals – doctors, dentists, and others – who betray their oaths and contribute to the devastation through greed and addiction. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the fallout from Steward’s actions, and the ongoing fight against prescription drug abuse in Kentucky.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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