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Date: 12-06-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 1:19-cr-00489-BYP
Judge: Benita Y. Pearson
Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (Cuyahoga County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Cleveland, Ohio criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant doctor charged with drug distribution.
Dr. Gary Frantz, a Mansfield, Ohio physician was charged with illegally and without medical necessity, prescribing powerful painkillers.
From January of 2005 through June of 2017, Frantz, a licensed medical practitioner in Mansfield, Ohio, distributed prescription painkillers, such as Oxycodone, Methadone, Hydrocodone and more, that were medically unnecessary and outside the usual course of professional practice to ten individuals.
Frantz prescribed narcotics to customers whom he described as “patients”, often prescribing doses that far exceeded the standard of care, and at levels that were so high, they’re typically seen only in operating rooms and in end-of-life care. In some instances, family members came to Frantz and raised concerns that their loved ones were taking too much medication; however, Frantz continued to distribute narcotics at excessive levels and in large doses.
Furthermore, Frantz distributed excessive quantities of narcotics to persons despite knowing that they had histories of substance abuse and in the face of multiple signs that they were addicted to the medication. In some instances, pharmacists expressed concern to Frantz that the dosages and quantities of painkillers that he was prescribing and that some of his patients were filling prescriptions far too often. Nevertheless, Frantz continued to prescribe these large doses.
Frantz also prescribed large doses of perception narcotics to Defendant Christopher Fulk, who was known as a “patient”. During this time, Frantz wrote medically unnecessary prescriptions for excessively large quantities of controlled substances, including oxycodone pills and fentanyl patches, some of which Fulk then diverted and distributed to others. Fulk sold thousands of oxycodone pills and hundreds of fentanyl patches that he received from Frantz to various customers in the Mansfield area.
This case was investigated by the DEA, METRICH Drug Task Force and the Mansfield Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret A. Sweeney and Edward F. Feran.
Outcome: Minutes of proceedings [non-document] before Judge Benita Y. Pearson. Sentencing as to Defendant Gary Frantz (1) held on 12/2/2021. Defendant Gary Frantz was present and represented by Attorneys Roger M. Synenberg and Matthew A. Kurz; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret A. Sweeney and Edward F. Feran were present on behalf of the Government; and U.S. Pretrial Services and Probation Officer Nicholas Ayers was also present. Defendant sentenced to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for a term of 46 months as to each of Counts 72, 111, 122, 139, 154, 168, 191, 230, 240, and 242 of the Indictment, each such term to be served concurrently. Upon release, Defendant shall serve a 3-year term of supervised release as to each of Counts 72, 111, 122, 139, 154, 168, 191, 230, 240, and 242 of the Indictment, each such term to be served concurrently, with standard and special conditions of supervision imposed. The Court imposed a $10,000.00 fine, which is due immediately. Defendant shall pay a $1,000.00 special assessment as to Counts 72, 111, 122, 139, 154, 168, 191, 230, 240, and 242 of the Indictment, which is due immediately. The Court granted the Government's oral motion to dismiss Counts 1, 4-71, 73-110, 112-121, 123-138, 140-153, 155-167, 169-190, 192-197, 200, 203-229, 231-239, and 241 of the Indictment as to Defendant Gary Frantz only, without objection. Defendant shall self surrender after 1/12/2022 as notified by the U.S. Marshals Service. (Court Reporter: Mary Uphold); Time: 1 Hour 33 Minutes. (JLG) (Entered: 12/02/2021)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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