Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Date: 03-01-2022
Case Style:
Case Number: 1:18-cr-00045-RGA
Judge: Richard G. Andrews
Court: United States District Court for the District of Delaware (New Castle County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Wilmington, Delaware criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with unlawfully distributing drugs and maintaining a drug involved premises.
Patrick Titus, 58, of Milford, was convicted by a federal jury in July 2021 of 13 counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises.
“This sentence is a reminder that the Department of Justice will hold accountable those doctors who are illegitimately prescribing opioids and fueling the country’s opioid crisis,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Doctors who commit these unlawful acts exploit their roles as stewards of their patients’ care for their own profit.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Titus unlawfully distributed or dispensed a variety of powerful opioids – including fentanyl, morphine, methadone, OxyContin and oxycodone – outside the usual scope of professional practice and not for legitimate medical purposes. Titus operated an internal medicine practice where he frequently prescribed these dangerous controlled substances in high dosages, sometimes in combination with each other or in other dangerous combinations, mostly in exchange for cash. Evidence at trial showed he distributed over 1 million opioid pills. Although these Schedule II drugs are approved for pain management treatment, Titus provided no meaningful medical care and instead prescribed these controlled substances to patients he knew were suffering from substance use disorder and/or who demonstrated clear signs that the prescribed drugs were being abused, diverted or sold on the street.
“DEA-registered medical practitioners have an important role in our communities to treat patients compassionately and responsibly,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that medical professionals who recklessly prescribe opioids and endanger the safety and health of patients will be held accountable. I applaud the outstanding investigative work conducted by DEA’s Wilmington Resident Office Tactical Diversion Squad and the Department of Justice’s prosecution of the case.”
“As we continue the fight against the opioid crisis, this case serves as an important reminder that health care professionals have a duty to prescribe medication responsibly to ensure the well-being of individuals under their care. Failing to do so can endanger patients and undermines critical, ongoing public health measures,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold bad actors accountable.”
The DEA and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant Deputy Chiefs Aleza Remis and Justin Woodard and Trial Attorney Claire Sobczak of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmond Falgowski of the District of Delaware assisted with the case.
Outcome: 03/01/2022 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Richard G. Andrews - Sentencing held on 3/1/2022. Counsel present for Government: A. Remis, C. Sobczak. Counsel present for Defendant: E. Bostic, E. Kousoulis. Probation Officers present: W. Matthews, M. Bray. SENTENCE OF THE COURT: Patrick Titus, Counts 1-6 - 240 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT (ALL COUNTS TO RUN CONCURRENTLY); 3 YEARS SUPERVISED RELEASE (ALL COUNTS TO RUN CONCURRENTLY); FINE WAIVED; $1,400 TOTAL SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ($100 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR EACH COUNT). Counts 8-14 - 240 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT (ALL COUNTS TO RUN CONCURRENTLY); 3 YEARS SUPERVISED RELEASE (ALL COUNTS TO RUN CONCURRENTLY); FINE WAIVED; $1,400 TOTAL SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ($100 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR EACH COUNT). Count 15 - 240 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT (ALL COUNTS TO RUN CONCURRENTLY); 3 YEARS SUPERVISED RELEASE (ALL COUNTS TO RUN CONCURRENTLY); FINE WAIVED; $1,400 TOTAL SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ($100 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR EACH COUNT). Count - 7, DISMISSED - FOUND NOT GUILTY. (Court Reporter Heather Triozzi.) (lak) (Entered: 03/01/2022)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: