Macon, Georgia – Seven defendants involved in two clinics that operated as ‘pill mills’ have been sentenced in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Charles ‘Charlie’ Peeler.
On Wednesday, December 5, 2018, Judge Hugh Lawson sentenced Dr. William Bacon, 83, of St. Johns, FL to 72 months in prison and the forfeiture of over $95,000, and Dr. Donatus O. Mbanefo, 65, of Columbus, GA to 96 months in prison.
A jury found both Dr. Bacon and Dr. Mbanefo guilty of conspiracy to dispense controlled substances outside the usual course of medical practice and a legitimate medical purpose at clinics in Valdosta, Georgia and Columbus, Georgia.
Dr. Mbanefo was also convicted of two additional counts of unlawful dispensation of controlled substances during the jury trial from May 29 to June 13, 2018 in Valdosta federal court.
Five co-conspirators previously entered guilty pleas for their involvement in or knowledge and concealment of the conspiracy, and were sentenced in federal court on Thursday, December 6, 2018.
On charges of Conspiracy:
1. Carol Neema Biggs a/k/a Carol Johnson, 33, of Hollywood, FL: 60 months imprisonment, plus 36 months consecutive in prison for a total of 96 months imprisonment
2. Junior Alexander Biggs, 40, of Hollywood, FL: 50 months imprisonment, plus 36 months consecutive in prison for a total of 86 months imprisonment
3. Nilaja C. Biggs, 36 of Hialeah, FL: 36 months imprisonment
On charges of Knowledge and Concealment of the Conspiracy:
4. Shavonta Devon Bright, 35 of Miami, FL: 3 years probation
5. Ionie Whorms, 55 of Goose Creek, SC: 3 years probation
Dr. Vinod Shah, 69 of Salisbury, NC previously entered a guilty plea to involvement in the pill mill conspiracy and will be sentenced at a later date.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that co-conspirators Carol Biggs, Nilija Biggs and Junior Biggs formed the Wellness Center of Valdosta (WCV) in June 2011, located at 2016 E. Adair Street, to operate as a pain clinic.
During the approximately 27 months during which Dr. Bacon worked at the Wellness Center of Valdosta, he wrote more than 29,000 prescriptions for controlled substances.
The ‘cocktail’ generally included such highly addictive controlled substances as Oxycodone and Xanax, but also included Hydromorphone, Hydrocodone, Soma, Valium and Ambien.
Patients made cash payments of more than $2 million to see the doctors for prescriptions.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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