Bernard M. Tougas, Ronald V. Myers, John C. Friedl and George B. Howell are all being sought in connection with charges ranging from racketeering to murder.
Myers and Friedl are both charged with racketeering and two counts of unlawful distribution of narcotics. If convicted they could each face a sentence of life in prison.
Tougas, owner of the clinic, is charged with maintaining a building where illegal drugs are sold. If convicted he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Howell is charged with racketeering and first-degree murder, or in the alternative, murder in the second degree. The murder charge stems from the overdose death of a patient who was prescribed Schedule 2 Narcotics by Howell. If convicted, Howell could face life without parole or life in prison.
According to Sequoyah County Sheriff Ron Lockhart, all four individuals are currently out of state.
"We are in contact with the authorities in the state and county where each suspect is living. One of the doctors is expected to turn himself in later today," stated Lockhart. "This investigation revolves around pain clinics operating in our area and I do anticipate that more arrests will be made."
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It is about time!!!!
ReplyDeleteWish ALL those places would be closed down.
ReplyDeleteALL of them should be closed down.
ReplyDeleteDr. Jenkins in stillwell, OK, who is a psychiatrist/family practice physician should be next!! He is killing my mother...there's nothing physically wrong with her, yet he gives her 120 Percocet, 90 Oxycodone 20mg, 90 valium, 90 colonapen, 3 different sleep meds and anything else she asks for! Since she started seeing him in or around 2006, due to someone telling her he'd give her whatever she wants, she has lost 95 pounds and weighs 87 now...she never leaves the house and has become a zombie, I've called aps and dhs and anyone else who would listen....absolutely no one will help me save her life. I wish someone would read this and investigate him please
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DeleteSo it's medically appropriate to give someone 4 pain meds and 3 sleeping pills? I think not
DeleteSo it's medically appropriate to give someone 4 pain meds and 3 sleeping pills? I think not
DeleteJennifer, if this is genuinely threatening her life try reporting to the licensing board. There is also the option of getting conservatorship over your mother. I wish you both the best. Good luck.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteJust sayin, this is not NEWS about Dr. Jenkins.
DeleteHalf the state knows that he over-prescribes, and he HAS gotten in trouble for it before.
He was also proven, in his past life as a surgeon, to have operated on patients while under the influence of narcotics, which is illegal.
He is a very nice man, but NOT a very good dr.
Just sayin, this is not NEWS about Dr. Jenkins.
DeleteHalf the state knows that he over-prescribes, and he HAS gotten in trouble for it before.
He was also proven, in his past life as a surgeon, to have operated on patients while under the influence of narcotics, which is illegal.
He is a very nice man, but NOT a very good dr.
So where do people with legitimate pain go?
ReplyDeleteIf you are anywhere near the person in the comment above yours, I would say that's a great place to start. On the other hand I think every place has their own share of glorified drug dealers, and they should go down just as quick as the drug dealer standing on the corner. But it happens to few and far between
DeleteLol
DeleteLol
DeleteAnd a local cosmetic surgeon's office staff made it a practice to insist that my wife just take more pain meds as her botched surgical site was putrefying. When the doctor finally checked on her after several weeks of pleading, he committed a second surgery, for which the insurance and we were charged. Could this be a clever scam to get paid double for operations?
ReplyDeletePhysicians like this five legitimate pain clinics a bad name.
ReplyDeletePeople like this our so inferior. Greedy. Really it doesn't stop there, their are many other professional people involved in this type of activity. It hurt people like me who have multiple conditions that cause pain 24/7. I drive 3 hours to a pain clinic that have great doctors and they keep up with everything. Jennifer see if you can contact the DEA. Do not go to local police most of the time their on the take. Jenkins maybe is being watched already. But take the steps you need to protect your mother. Good Luck God Bless you for recognizing the problem with your mother. So many don't.
ReplyDeletePlease over look my grammar errors. Part of my brain damage.
DeleteIt always amazes me how the ignorant always have comments that want to put blame on others. Pain is totally subjective. Pain doctors can only rely upon what their patients tell them they feel. Injuries that may be minor annoyances to some can be devastating and intolerable for others. If you know your family member is abusing their medication it is your responsibility as a so-called concerned and loving family member to report this to their loved one's doctor. I've never met a pain specialist that would not investigate this behavior and either talk to the patient and find a solution to the problem by either getting the patient help to manage their medications or terminate them as a patient. Every adult pain patient knows when they are abusing their medication. These medications are to be taken as needed for pain and not necessarily as prescribed. Pain doctors make the lives of those that truly need it comfortable and productive. There are no tests that can determine a person's level of pain. These doctors also can NOT babysit and oversee every patient. It is people like all of you, even the individual that is a pain patient, cause problems for the doctors, patients and true pain patients families suffer. I here nothing about going after liquor stores, clubs or producers of alcohol after someone has died from or killed from their abuse. No matter who sells the drugs, either legally or illegally, should be punished by the actions of the abusers unless of course the abusers are minors or mentally incompetent. Our government, military and even our law enforcement kill innocent people who do nothing to bring about their deaths themselves. Adult abusers of drugs and alcohol make the choices that cost them and other innocent people their lives. Maybe instead of blaming the doctors and even the illegal dealers responsible for the lives of addicts, you loving family members and friends should be held accountable for not seeking help when the abuse is noticed. You take videos of yourselves on vacation, having sex and any and all other conceivable times. Why not video the abuser when they are incoherent and acting irrational and show it to the doctor. You certainly step right up after the abuser overdoses and appear in court, at depositions and at law enforcement when you're ready to file the multimillion dollar lawsuits when you sue the doctors. That's why I'm beginning to detest our lawmakers, government and many people I see everyday. Nobody wants to take any responsibility for their actions or inactions. This is the most litigious, greedy and irresponsible society I've ever seen and I've seen several different ones. Go on pointing your fingers, suing and denying the fact that you are the biggest part of an abusers problem by not stepping up when you see the abuse begin. I truly understand why this generation is the worst in the history of our country. Just look at yourselves in the mirror and you'll see the person responsible for so much reprehensible behavior. It's not the goverments right or responsibility to oversee the medical profession, it's up to medical professionals. Furthermore, only pain specialists should oversee this field of practice, psychiatrists to oversee other psychiatrists and so on and so on. Anything else is what's truly irresponsible as well as any adult that acts or fails to act to watch out for their loved ones. Just because you are prescribed any number of pills per day doesn't mean you have to take that many when the prescription says "as needed for pain"! Maybe a course in written comprehension should be given to everyone that reads directions! While we are discussing basically what is a freedom, stop trying to impose your likes, dislikes and opinions on others if it doesn't affect your freedoms. Haven't you seen what that kind of thinking is causing in the Middle East and other places? Is there any meds out there I can take to relieve myself from the pain and frustrations of being forced to tolerate people like each of you?
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