Tennessee Pharmacist Sentenced for Unlawful Interstate Distribution of Prescription Drugs Without a License

OKLAHOMA CITY—Earlier this week, CECIL WAYNE PARKER, 66, from Newport, Tennessee, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Joe Heaton to serve three years’ probation for interstate distribution of prescription drugs to a pharmacist in another state without a valid wholesale license, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. In addition, Parker was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $4,000 in restitution.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for protecting the health and safety of the American public by regulating, among other things, the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs (i.e., distribution to someone other than a consumer or a patient). The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that persons engaged in the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs in interstate commerce must be licensed by a state in accordance with guidelines established by the FDA.

According to court records, Parker was a pharmacist licensed by the state of Tennessee who owned and operated the Newport Drug Store Inc. in Newport, Tennessee. Even though he did not hold a prescription drug wholesale license in Tennessee, Alabama, or Oklahoma, Parker had the prescription drugs mailed from Danville, Alabama to Norman, Oklahoma in June 2008. The prescription drugs Parker mailed were Avandamet, Effexor XR, Ultram ER, Pravachol, Rozerem, Strattera, Coreg CR, Diovan HCT, Exelon, Fosamax Plus D, Hyzaar, and Lotrel.

Parker was indicted on June 22, 2011 and pled guilty on September 12, 2011. As part of the plea agreement, Parker surrendered his pharmacist’s license.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross N. Lillard, III.