LITTLE ROCK, AR – Dr. Richard Duane Johns, 49, of Little Rock, has admitted to running a prolific oxycodone distribution ring across central Arkansas, pleading guilty Thursday to federal conspiracy charges. The disgraced physician was responsible for illegally dispensing at least 39,000 pills with a street value exceeding $1,000,000, according to federal prosecutors.
The guilty plea, entered before Chief United States District Court Judge Brian S. Miller, carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release. Johns was initially indicted alongside 18 others back in September 2015, a case that has slowly unraveled over the years. U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Thyer and DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam jointly announced the plea, signaling a significant, though belated, victory in the ongoing battle against opioid abuse.
As part of the agreement, Johns will forfeit $155,620 in cash and a Ford F250 truck, both seized during the investigation and directly linked to the illicit operation. Prosecutors also reserved the right to pursue further forfeiture of assets at sentencing. Thyer didn’t mince words, stating, “Dr. Johns, while purporting to be a health-care professional, is nothing more than a common drug dealer.” He slammed Johns’ actions as “unconscionable” given the national opioid epidemic and pledged continued aggressive pursuit of corrupt medical professionals.
The conspiracy primarily festered in Lonoke, White, and Pulaski counties. The investigation was triggered by an opioid overdose death in May 2015 near Cabot, prompting the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office to enlist the DEA’s assistance. Detectives quickly uncovered a pattern of 187 fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions penned by Dr. Johns, totaling approximately 16,830 pills with a street value of $504,900 within Lonoke County alone. A total of 38 individuals were initially charged with state-level drug offenses in Lonoke County, with 17 already entering guilty pleas.
The reach of Johns’ operation extended to White County, where 15 additional individuals faced drug-related charges connected to the scheme, all of whom have also pleaded guilty. “This was a tremendous effort by all our agencies working together to get a drug dealing doctor off the streets before even more people were hurt,” declared Lonoke County Prosecutor Chuck Graham. White County Prosecutor Rebecca Reed echoed the sentiment, noting the case brought crucial attention to the pervasive issue of opioid addiction in their community.
The DEA’s investigation revealed a sophisticated distribution network spanning multiple counties, with Dr. Johns allegedly at the center, churning out prescriptions for profit. Six additional counts of illegal oxycodone distribution originally filed against Johns were dismissed as part of the plea deal. While the investigation took years, authorities hope Johns’ conviction will send a strong message: the abuse of medical licenses for criminal gain will not be tolerated. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
RELATED: Slingerlands Man Pleads Guilty to Oxycodone Conspiracy
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Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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