Three people tied to two Celina pharmacies pled guilty to roles in distributing controlled substances and committing health care fraud.
Thomas Weir served as majority owner of Dale Hollow Pharmacy and Clay County Xpress Pharmacy. William Donaldson and Pamela Spivey were co-owners. The three were involved in distributing large amounts of drugs between 2014 and 2019.
A criminal trial was set to begin in Cookeville on the multiple charges next week.
Weir pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and a conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. Donaldson pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and a conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. Spivey pled guilty to a conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and a conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Authorities say the number of prescriptions dispensed at the two pharmacies continued to rise, and there were “obvious signs” of patients abusing and selling prescriptions. In addition, fraudulent and false drug claims were submitted to Medicare and TennCare.
As part of his plea agreement, Weir will pay more than $1.4 million in restitution to TennCare and Medicare and will forfeit properties associated with the pharmacies. Weir faces a maximum penalty of ten years on conspiracies to distribute and dispense controlled substances and health care fraud, and a maximum of five years on the conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Authorities say Spivey and Weir each face a maximum of $500,000 in fines and 10 years in jail on conspiracies to distribute and dispense controlled substances and health care fraud. Spivey and Weir will be sentenced on January 5.
