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Physician Pleads Guilty in Pill Mill Case
Montgomery, AL – In a shocking turn of events, Dr. Willie J. Chester, a 65-year-old physician from Pike Road, Alabama, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the fraudulent acquisition of controlled substances in connection with the now-closed Montgomery medical office, Family Practice.
According to court documents, Dr. Chester wrote a prescription for clonazepam, commonly known as Klonopin, despite knowing that the patient receiving the prescription had no legitimate medical need for the drug. This brazen act of deceit is just the latest in a string of charges brought against the former employees and owners of Family Practice.
Dr. Chester’s plea marks the ninth guilty plea in the case, which has seen the practice’s owner, Dr. Gilberto Sanchez, plead guilty to drug distribution, health care fraud, and money laundering charges in November of last year. Since then, three other physicians, including Dr. Chester, have pleaded guilty to drug distribution charges, while two certified registered nurse practitioners have pleaded guilty to the same charges. Three other employees have pleaded guilty to health care fraud and money laundering offenses.
Dr. Chester faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison and substantial monetary penalties at his upcoming sentencing hearing, the date of which has not yet been set. The investigation into the operation of Family Practice was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, and the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.
The Montgomery County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, the Montgomery, Alabama Police Department, the Opelika, Alabama Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency all assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross is prosecuting the case.
As the investigation continues to unfold, it is clear that the operation of Family Practice was a brazen and reckless attempt to profit from the suffering of others. The guilty pleas of Dr. Chester and his colleagues serve as a stark reminder that those who engage in such activities will be held accountable for their actions.
The people of Alabama deserve better than to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous medical professionals. It is the duty of this newspaper to shine a light on such egregious crimes and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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