Date: 07-25-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Dr. Bernard Shelton

Case Number: 2:17-cr-20701

Judge: Denise Page Hood

Court: The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Wayne County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Detroit

Defendant's Attorney:

Click Here For The Best Detroit, Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory

Description:

Detroit, Michigan criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with overdose death that resulted from his unlawful prescribing
St. Clair Shores Doctor Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Causing Patient’s Drug Overdose Death

Dr. Bernard Shelton, age 67, of St. Clous Shores, prescribed over 5.5 million doses of controlled substances between April 2013 and December 2016. Shelton prescribed over 2.7 million doses of Schedule II controlled substances such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, usually prescribing the types and strengths of drugs most valuable on the street market. When an undercover patient made an initial visit to Shelton complaining of back stiffness, Shelton did not examine the patient’s back, but instead asked, “What can I give you today” before prescribing the requested narcotics. The jury found that Shelton issued twenty-one prescriptions to seven different patients outside the usual course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose so he could charge for office visits and tests. Shelton received over $1.4 million from Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan during the same time period.

Shelton began prescribing opioid pain relievers in 2010 to a patient whose pain was previously treated by prescription strength Motrin. Shelton prescribed increasingly stronger controlled substances over the next six years, and the patient became addicted to the drugs. In January 2016, he prescribed an increased dosage of oxycodone to the 54-year-old patient without medical justification. The patient suffered an overdose two days later and survived. A second oxycodone overdose four days later was fatal. Shelton also contributed to the overdose deaths of two other patients.

U.S. Attorney Ison stated, “This defendant violated his oath to do no harm to his patients. He prescribed drugs without any medical justification in order to line his own pockets. His actions caused the death of at least one person and contributed to the deaths of two others. This sentence won’t bring back those patients who he harmed, but should serve as a warning to others of our resolve to aggressively prosecute physicians who choose to act as drug dealers and cause the death of patients. “

DEA Special Agent in Charge Greene stated, “This kind of reckless diversion of prescription medication has resulted in unimaginable suffering; the erosion of communities; and has paved a path to the emergence of fake prescription pills. We will continue to work tirelessly to identify those responsible for fueling opioid abuse and hold them accountable for their actions.”

The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the St. Clair Shores Police Department and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The trial was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Wayne F. Pratt and Lisandra Fernandez-Silber.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: